Arsenal are closing in on the £11m signing of Ivory Coast forward Gervinho from Lille - but continue to take a tough stance over the futures of contract rebel Samir Nasri and wantaway captain Cesc Fabregas.

Newcastle United manager Alan Pardew was interested in Gervinho, but he gave up the chase last month.

Gervinho, 24, is understood to be in London having agreed terms on a four-year deal, with just the formalities of a medical to be completed before an official announcement is made.

Once the move has been rubber stamped, it will mark the first major summer signing for Gunners boss Arsene Wenger, who this week saw long-serving full-back Gael Clichy head to Manchester City.

Wenger has some tough decisions to make before the squad, which had a staggered return to pre-season training at London Colney, heads out on a short tour of the Far East at the weekend.

France international Nasri is due back today, and has yet to commit himself to the Gunners cause, rejecting an initial £50,000-a-week offer, insisting trophies and not improved wages are his motivation.

While Arsenal know they risk losing the 24-year-old for nothing at the end of his current deal next season, Wenger is said to be determined not to sell the midfielder to a domestic rival, unless it is for an inflated price, with Chelsea emerging as potential suitors alongside both Manchester clubs, so Inter Milan and Bayern Munich offer other possible exits.

The Gunners are also remaining steadfast over Fabregas, having turned down Barcelona's £27m offer earlier in the summer and intend to hold out for nearer £40m, using Real Madrid's interest as leverage.

The Gervinho deal is expected to be completed in time for him to head out to Asia on Sunday, by when Fabregas and Nasri may also have to bite the bullet and join in with the Gunners' commercial drive which will see games played in Malaysia and then China.