Arsène Wenger says the rule covering the "tapping-up" of players needs to be reviewed because so few clubs respect it.

The Arsenal manager is struggling to hold on to his captain Cesc Fábregas, sought by Barcelona, and another influential midfielder, France's Samir Nasri, and he was asked whether he believed Manchester City had overstepped the mark in their pursuit of Nasri.

Wenger replied: "I would like to return the question to you – what do you think? We live in a realistic world. I do not want to assess what I cannot prove. I know how things happen.

"It doesn't necessarily go through the player or the agent but I think it is a rule that has to be reviewed. It's not really respected."