Wenger chasing Gareth Barry swoop

Arsenal has opened talks with Manchester City and England midfielder Gareth Barry over a possible summer switch from the Etihad to the Emirates Stadium.

The former Aston Villa man is entering into the final 12 months of his contract with the former Premier League champions and with no imminent contract talks on the agenda for City, Arsenal have sensed an opportunity to bring one of the pillars of City’s title winning squad of the 2011/12 season to North London as Arsene Wenger looks to bolster his midfield options.

Barry rakes in £ 100,000 a week City but he fears that he might not be in the plans of new City manager Manuel Pellegrini with the arrival of two midfielders in Jesus Navas and former Shakhtar Donetsk man Fernandinho. Arsenal is preparing a £ 4 million bid for the England international but it is also being believed City will want to keep hold of Gareth Barry as they plan to use him as one of the star men for their new Major League Soccer franchise the New York City FC.

According to some media reports, City have offered a new contract to Barry where he will earn a lot less than he does now, just to keep him in their books and it seems that offer has already been rejected by the agent of the midfielder. And that puts Arsenal in pole position to sign the former Aston Villa midfield general as they can offer him first team football with a FIFA World Cup looming large in 2014.

Arsenal and Wenger are willing to offer Gareth Barry a 12 month contract worth £ 75,000 per week with the option of another year and it could be enough for the Englishman to leave his Manchester experience behind and try his luck in North London.