Arsenal Favourites in Race for Manchester United Star – Report

Arsenal are reported to be frontrunners to sign Manchester United winger Luis Nani in the summer, with the winger failing to agree terms with United over a new contract, according to the Metro. The Portuguese international's contract with the Red Devils ends in 2014 and the player is expected to be available for a sum in the range of £8.5m.

The 26-year-old has revealed that he is not sure as to what holds in his future but has refused to confirm a move out of Old Trafford. The winger also scuppered any talk of a move back to Portugal, stating that he is currently on a whole new level to the clubs back home.

"My future? Nothing is certain. I am calm. I have everything in my hands. I am not saying that I will not continue at Manchester United. I will think about what is best for me. I have respect for the Portuguese clubs, especially Sporting Lisbon but also Benfica and Porto, but I don't think that is viable. I think my level at the moment is different," Nani said in an interview.

Arsenal will face competition from Italian Champions Juventus and French giants Monaco but the Gunners are believed to favourites to land the player. Nani made only seven starts in the league in the whole of last season scoring only one goal and assisting two in the process. The Red Devils have already brought in a replacement for the Portuguese, having secured a deal for Wilfried Zaha in January.

Arsene Wenger has a £70m cash kitty to spend in the summer with the Gunners also interested in securing a deal for Nani's United teammate Wayne Rooney. The North London club have also stepped up their interest in Gonzalo Higuain and are keeping tabs on Lyon midfielder Clement Grenier and are reported to have activated Marouane Fellaini's £22m release clause.

Arsenal chief executive Ivan Gazidis has insisted that the Gunners will spend lavishly in the summer and go back on course to challenge for the title next season.

"We think we have got the right person to make the kinds of choices and decisions that we are going to have. This year we are beginning to see something we have been planning for some time, which is the escalation in our financial firepower. It means we can look at some options that weren't really in our financial capability," Gazidis explained.