Samir Nasri and Cesc Fabregas
Are both of them leaving Arsenal? Reuters

After seeing a bid for Everton's Phil Jagielka rejected, Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger has stated that he would certainly find a new defender to shore up his fragile defence.

Last season, a long-term injury to Thomas Vermaelen caused problems aplenty to Wenger, as he had to partner Johan Djourou with Laurent Koscielny as Sebastian Squillaci failed to meet the mark. Wenger has been attempting to strengthen the position since the summer began, and has been linked to Bolton's Gary Cahill, Blackburn Chris Samba apart from Jagielka.

After seeing his £12 million bid for the Jagielka rejected, Wenger told Arsenal's official website that the club was working on a capture, he wouldn't comment as to who it is.

Certainly, we will have to find one more defender, he told Arsenal's official website. We (are) working on it. I don't want to comment individually because I do not want to destabilise clubs. I do not want to do to other clubs what some clubs do to us so I wouldn't like to comment individually on any player.

I can promise we work very hard on it. In fairness, everybody looks for players. Everybody looks for the same area and you see that nobody turns up with magic. It's all about being steady, working very hard on it and being calm as well.

Meanwhile, the Mirror has reported that Barcelona are in a state of desperation as they attempt to raise funds to sign Cesc Fabregas and put an end to the long-standing saga. The report suggests that Barca will sell their vast number of quality youngsters with buy-back clauses in their contracts to fund the move for Fabregas, as they attempt to raise £20 million.

One such player is Oriol Romeu for whom Chelsea have already agreed a fee, though it is unclear whether his contract includes a buy-back clause. The highly rated Ibrahim Affelay is also linked with a £4 million move to Tottenham while a deal is already in place with Italian side AS Roma for a £11 million move for Bojan Krikic with an option of buying him back for £12 million in two years time.

With Arsenal holding out for £40m for Fabregas, and refusing to accept anything less, Barca, Fabregas and even Arsenal will both hope the Catalans can find the required cash as the Gunners will be looking to sign an apt replacement for the Spaniard. Interestingly, Villarreal midfielder Santi Cazorla has been one of the many linked players, although he is touted by newly-rich Malaga as well.

In news regarding Fabregas' midfield partner Samir Nasri, Wenger has admitted that things with the player wasn't completely sorted.

It is not completely sorted that Samir will stay, but I want him to stay, said Wenger. He knows that. Hopefully we can sort that out in the coming weeks.

Manchester City are interested in the French player, who has told his friends that he wouldn't be performing a U-turn over his future at Arsenal and sign a new contract. City are reportedly offering £23 million for Nasri, which is quite a lot for a player who is into the final 12 months of his contract. If they don't sell, Arsenal risk losing him for nothing next year.

The Express reports that Wenger is looking to make a new offer worth £110,000-a-week for Nasri, in a bid to to keep the Frenchman at the Emirates, but the 24-year-old has no intention of extending his contract and would even be willing to stay this season and move on for a Bosman next year.

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