Football Spy: SAM CAN EASE FURY OF ARSENE; EXCLUSIVE.

Byline: By JOHN CROSS

ARSENE WENGER last night clinched an pounds 11m deal with Marseille for Samir Nasri - and paved the way for Alexander Hleb to join Inter Milan.

Nasri, 20, has undergone a medical, agreed a four-year contract and will be announced an Arsenal player once he is released from a France training camp to put pen to paper.

But Arsenal are set to lose midfielder Hleb, who is set to join Italian champions Inter - even though Barcelona and Real Madrid both made last-ditch approaches.

Wenger has feared losing Hleb ever since Inter made an illegal approach through super agent Vincenzo Morabito the night before Arsenal's Champions League clash with AC Milan in the San Siro.

Morabito has now met with Real Madrid and Barcelona, trying to broker a move to Spain even though Hleb's agent Uli Ferber has already agreed terms with Inter Milan. The Hleb situation has infuriated Wenger, who has urged the Arsenal board to take legal advice to try and stop the Belarus midfielder from buying out the remaining two years of his contract at Arsenal for a bargain pounds 3m.

Wenger is determined to take a strong stance against Hleb even though he now accepts he wants to leave and that has prompted a search for his successor.

Nasri fits the bill perfectly and last night a source close to Marseille said: "The deal has been agreed. The medical took place on Wednesday, he agreed to sign on Thursday and the only hold up is that he is with the French squad at the moment."

Wenger is a big admirer of Nasri and has been tracking him for months after French scout Gilles Grimandi strongly recommended him.

Nasri has been dubbed the new Zinedine Zidane because he plays for Marseille, has Algerian roots and can play as a support striker or playmaker.

Wenger will carry on spending to strengthen his squad, especially after losing Mathieu Flamini to Milan.

CAPTION(S):

DONE DEAL Samir Nasri is on his way to the Emirates after Wenger agreed an pounds 11m deal with Marseille