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By SAMI MOKBEL

Arsenal are looking at a bold January swoop for Manchester United and Portugal winger Nani.

The 26-year-old is out of favour at Old Trafford after a bust-up with Sir Alex Ferguson and an impasse over a contract extension, while Wenger looks to bolster his squad for the Champions League and Premier League run-in.

Nani believes his relationship with Ferguson is beyond repair and has privately conceded his future is elsewhere, but United have not totally shut the door on the player, whose contract expires in 2014.

The winger, who missed Sunday’s Manchester derby through injury, had a bust-up with promising United midfielder Davide Petrucci earlier this season. He has not played since he was hauled off during the Champions League match at Braga in early November.

Wenger is also keen on West Ham and Senegal midfielder Mohamed Diame, whose contract has a £3.5million release clause.

The Gunners manager wants to add a defensive midfielder.

PSV’s Kevin Strootman has been scouted but could cost more than £20m.

Arsenal’s move for Diame looked off on Sunday night when it seemed the 25-year-old would miss the next three months after injuring a hamstring in the 3-2 home defeat by Liverpool.

On Monday, manager Sam Allardyce said: ‘We had a massive blow when Momo Diame pulled up and had to come off because everything good about us going forward was generally coming from Mo.

‘He was breaking behind Liverpool’s midfield and it allowed the full backs, the wide men, Kevin Nolan and Carlton Cole to get in the box. We could not cope after he went off, we sat back too much and Liverpool punished us.

‘It is not just Mo Diame that is out and it is not just two weeks that our players are out for, it has been a crushing blow for us but we will continue to do our best with the players we have available.’

But after medical tests on Monday, the Hammers are hopeful Diame can play again before January.

 

 

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