Liverpool submit bid to gatecrash Arsenal’s chase of next Nasri

Whether being hailed as the next Samir Nasri is anything to shout from the rooftops about is debatable, but this is the comparison that is often attributed to Clement Grenier.

Arsene Wenger was obviously gutted when Nasri departed Arsenal for Manchester City, even though the Frenchman arguably only produced to the high standards he was capable of for a few months of his three-year stay at the Emirates.

It is somewhat ironic that Grenier has been called up as Nasri’s replacement for France’s upcoming friendlies with Uruguay and Brazil and Arsenal are at the front of the queue to sign the 22-year-old from Lyon.

And Wenger is known to be a big admirer of Grenier, who enhanced his reputation greatly with four goals in his last seven matches of the Ligue 1 season.

Wenger said of Grenier: “We are following him, I like the intelligence of his play. He has interesting qualities.”

However, reports from France indicate that Liverpool have shown their hand first and laid down a €15m bid for the free-kick specialist, whose contract expires at Lyon next year.

Although Nasri is arguably most suited to pulling strings centrally, his best displays for Arsenal seemed to come when employed from a high starting position on the right.

This is where Grenier would probably start for Liverpool, although an interchangeable front three of the Frenchman, Philippe Coutinho and Luis Suarez in behind Daniel Sturridge would be a formidable quartet for any side.

Where he would fit in at Arsenal is not so clear-cut, as there may be the temptation to pick Grenier centrally and start Santi Cazorla slightly more left.

Liverpool are already plenty short enough at 13/8 to finish in the top four next season, but the addition of Grenier would make the price that touch more realistic.

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