The Germans, whose repeated profits in recent years are said to have made them the fourth richest club in the world, have £200million to spend and want Nasri to line up alongside - and then become an eventual replacement for - 28- year-old Franck Ribery, who is nearing the end of his contract.
Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger is concerned that Nasri, 23, and fellow Frenchman Gael Clichy, who have a year left on their contracts, are vulnerable to big-spending clubs.
United's interest is genuine, especially as Wesley Sneijder's £250,000-a-week pay demands have priced the Holland midfielder out of their reach.
That wage, though, would be no deterrent to City or Chelsea. Yet even then they would still have work to do in persuading the midfielder to switch after he said he was happy at Inter Milan.
United are also cooling their interest in Everton midfielder Jack Rodwell, who has become a target for Tottenham, where he could replace Luka Modric.
Despite the protestations of manager Harry Redknapp, his Croatia midfielder looks certain to leave White Hart Lane. However, anybody wanting Modric will have to see off Chelsea's longstanding interest in the player.
Brazil striker Neymar has insisted on keeping Stamford Bridge owner Roman Abramovich waiting on any move to London.
'Let's see how things are at the 19-year-old.
'I don't want to make any decision right now.'
Abramovich is ready to pay Brazilian club Santos £35m for him and then line the player's pockets with a £20m deal over four years.
But Neymar may prefer Real Madrid - and that is why he wants to keep his options open until after the Copa America.
He also wants to see whether Guus Hiddink takes up the coaching reins at Chelsea as expected, and whether Mark Hughes comes in an his No2.
This all means Abramovich must play a waiting game over his top transfer target - a game he is already used to as the Hiddink saga rolls on.
Sources in Turkey said that Hiddink's future as their national manager will be resolved in the coming week.
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