City handed striker deal hope

Arsenal new boy Samir Nasri has confirmed that reported Manchester City target Djibril Cisse wants a return to the Premier League.

Nasri recently completed his move to the Gunners from Marseille and has now admitted that his former team-mate in France, Cisse, is also looking to get back to England ahead of the new Premier League campaign in three weeks' time.

Nasri said: "He is my friend but it isn't up to me to influence his decision.

"But what I know is that he has a lot of ties in England, he would love to return there and he is a player who is made for the English league.

"It clearly depends on the standard of club that comes in for him."

Cisse has experience of playing in England following a spell at Liverpool between 2004 and 2007. However, following a loan spell with Marseille in the 2006-07 campaign, the France international made the switch permanent 12 months' ago.

Meanwhile Hamburg midfielder Jonathan Pitroipa scored the only goal of the game as Martin Jol's side defeated City 1-0 in a friendly clash on Saturday. The game was a good work out as Mark Hughes' men prepare for the second leg of their UEFA Cup first qualifying round tie against EB/Streymur at Barnsley's Oakwell ground on Thursday.