Arsene Wenger appeared to admit defeat in his attempts to keep Cesc Fabregas and Samir Nasri at the Emirates this week after the Gunners tabled a bid for Valencia winger Juan Mata.

Wenger wants to resolve the futures of both of his wantaway midfielders before the start of the season, and plans to use the cash from their sales to meet Valencia’s �25million asking price for the 23-year-old, a World Cup winner with Spain.

The Spaniards do not wish to sell Mata, and have rejected Arsenal’s opening bid, leaving the Gunners needing to come forward with a significantly improved offer.

Mata’s father confirmed: “Valencia simply rejected their offer, so my son remains a Valencia player, for now. But I don’t think it’s their last offer.

“There are several offers for Mata and I think that Arsenal will come forward again. The situation is still evolving.”

Wenger is keen to wrap up the transfers of Fabregas, Nasri and Mata before his side’s crucial Champions League qualifier during the first week of the season.

He may face competition for Mata’s signature from north London rivals Tottenham, while Inter Milan are also in the hunt – but Mata is known to favour a move to the Emirates.

Skipper Fabregas has not appeared at all in pre-season so far, officially due to a muscular problem, while Nasri is entering the final year of his contract and could leave for free next summer.

While the manager still wants to keep hold of both players, he has admitted that he is already considering their replacements.

“If you are asking that if two go then we need to sign one, then of course,” said Wenger. “They are two exceptional players and that’s why personally I want to keep the two.

“We have to deal with the situation one way or another. In the next 10 days we have to be clear on that front.

“If you ask me if I want to keep him (Nasri), I say yes. But he needs to be committed to that as well. I don’t give them 10 days, the transfer period is until August 31.

“Ideally, we go into big games in two weeks, in the next two weeks we have to sort our problems out.”