Cesc Fabregas is staying! Arsenal chief Peter Hill-Wood

• zocoss

  18 May 10, 20:50

  Cesc Fabregas wants to play for us, boast Barcelona as they step up bid for Arsenal captain with a swap for Zlatan Ibrahimovic
  

   

   

  

  Head above the parapet: Ibrahimovic (top) has been under fire

  

  See you soon: Messi (left) would welcome Fabregas back to Catalonia

   

  

  Come home: Cesc on Spain duty

   

  

  A number of options are available to Arsenal, Yaya Toure, Bojan, Ibrahimovic or Rafael Marquez would fit Wenger's desire?

   

  
   

  Barcelona have confirmed their interest in signing Cesc Fabregas and insist the Arsenal skipper is itching for a move to the Nou Camp.

  The Catalan giants admit they are close to sealing a deal for Valencia striker David Villa - but the recruitment won't stop there, with Fabregas earmarked for a possible swap deal with Zlatan Ibrahimovic.

  Nou Camp vice-president Rafael Yuste said: 'Both Villa and Cesc want to come and that is very important. But Cesc’s signing is more complicated because long negotiations with his club would lie ahead.'

   

  Yuste was speaking after the newly re-crowned La Liga champions held a 'technical summit' on Monday in which they discussed ways to improve a squad which is already bursting with stars.

  Sources in Spain claim Fabregas will now speak to Arsene Wenger about his future today, strengthened by Barca declaring their hand, though he has been pictured this week working on his fitness in the Collserola mountains near Barcelona.

  The deal for Villa could go through before the end of the week, with the fee thought to be about £40million, while Barca are preparing to offer a number of players in part-exchange for Fabregas.

  A number of options are available, with midfielder Yaya Toure and 19-year-old striker Bojan long been mooted for moves to north London, though the latest option could be to offer Ibrahimovic to Wenger.

  Mexico defender Rafael Marquez, 31, is another possibility and would fit Wenger's desire to add experience to a central defence which is likely to lose William Gallas this summer.

  Sweden striker Ibrahimovic has been criticised for a lacklustre season, scoring a relatively disappointing 21 goals in 41 appearances for the free-scoring side since a move from Inter Milan last summer that cost £40m plus Samuel Eto'o.

  Sportsmail revealed last week that Chelsea and Manchester City had been offered the 28-year-old for about £40m and Barca value Fabregas at the same amount. The Arsenal midfielder has been diplomatic in handling constant questions about his return to Catalonia.

  Few doubt he will one day return to the club he adores but left as a 16-year-old, though Fabregas has also shown immense commitment to Arsenal after the way they have shaped his career.

  The 23-year-old has a further four years left on his contract at the Emirates Stadium and the Gunners are reluctant to let go of their midfield marvel.

  However, Wenger has rarely stood in the way of those who want to leave and would seek a hefty transfer fee if the deal was to be done this summer.

   

  
   

  

  Racing in: Villa (left) is set to join Messi at Barcelona

   

   

  Fabregas set the tone at a promotional event last week when he confirmed his desire to eventually pull on the blaugrana shirt once more.

  'You see your (Spain) team-mates succeeding here (in Barcelona) and it is exciting because you have worked alongside them for so long.

  'I think I would like to go to Barcelona, whether or not they want me is another thing.'

   

  

  Highly rated: But Bojan (right) has struggled for first-team football

   

   

  However, Yuste's comments confirm there is work to be done on the deal, while a move for Villa is much more straight forward.

  Spain hot shot Villa has been courted by Europe's top clubs after hitting 20 goals or more in each of his 11 full seasons as a professional.

  His 28 in 42 games in this campaign helped Valencia to third in La Liga and Champions League qualification, but the cash-strapped club could definitely do with the £40million they would receive from Barca.

• DemonFox

  18 May 10, 21:48

  no deal!!. ibram is overated!! he lazy he slow he just another bendtner. give us messi and fabregas is urs. or inestia

• Paisley

  19 May 10, 09:44

  I don't even know why Barcelona switched Eto'o with Ibrahimovic?

  I think it's pretty obvious that Eto'o is way better than Zlatan Ibrahimovic.

  Anw, who don't want to play for Barcelona if that's a chance?

• Poignant

  19 May 10, 10:19

  

  

• zocoss

  19 May 10, 11:31

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  CESC FABREGAS has told Arsenal he wants to join Barcelona this summer.

  The Gunners' skipper broke the news to boss Arsene Wenger yesterday morning.

  His decision left Wenger upset and shell-shocked.

  Fabregas, 23, now hopes Arsenal can strike a swift £30million deal with the Catalan giants so he can focus on helping Spain win the World Cup.

  A source said: "It's a sad day for Arsenal but not unexpected.

  "Cesc loves the club, yet after seven years of great service has realised it's time to move on.

  "Barcelona is the only club for which he would leave Arsenal. And don't forget it is the team he has supported since he was a child."

  Barca are likely to begin talks tomorrow.

  A friend of Fabregas confirmed: "Cesc has demanded of Arsenal that they accept the sale if Barcelona present a formal offer."

  Barcelona, who won their second La Liga on the trot last Sunday, also expect to complete the capture of Valencia striker David Villa by Friday - for £42.5m.

  Villa, the second-top Spain goalscorer after Raul, has already passed a club medical.

• zocoss

  19 May 10, 11:40

  

  Pastures Nou: Cesc Fabregas has had a brilliant spell with Arsenal but the lure of Barcelona has proved too strong to resist.

  
  

   

  Arsenal will demand £50million from Barcelona after captain Cesc Fabregas asked to leave following talks with Arsene Wenger. The Spanish champions, who value their former trainee at £30m, believe the Gunners will cave in

   

   

  

• Rooney9

  19 May 10, 11:49

  try to ask for cash 20m and swop for Ibrahimovic (25)and toure (15) lol, since Barcelona is reportedly trying to buy Villa from Valencia, so why not.

   

   

• reyes

  19 May 10, 12:55

  i don think aw is shock la.

  staying in arsenal is just too tiring. in arsenal he has to carry the club while in barca, he has so many players to share the responsibility. plus there so many spainish player in barca shirt, it sure play like spain even in barca squad. gurantee trophy season in and out in the golden generation. no pt of holding a player whose heart is not there and might cause unrest and uncertainty in the dressing room. against his will, he might end up having a poor season and cause arsenal to lose big in the transfer fees demand.

  it just a matter of money.let him go. he has serve well. 40million + yaya. i say deal!!

   

• reyes

  19 May 10, 12:58

  when fab is gone, let the creative midfielder job to nasir, rocisky, ramsey or even wilshere  chance to shine.

  with yaya and song is protective midfielder, nasir has more chance to shone is attacking skills and room to create.

  i ahd seen chamkhah , he is good in the air and kinda fox in the box area. i bet the quality support arsenal has, he can score lotsa goals.

   

  sell eduardo, denilson, silvestre, vela.

   

• Rooney9

  19 May 10, 12:59

  I say wenger to play hard ball. insists fabregas to stay for one more season, then see how next season.

• reyes

  19 May 10, 13:16

  but no pt to hold a player whose heart is somewhere else.

  playing hardball could be looking for better deal instead.

• zocoss

  19 May 10, 14:33

  Once Fab has so openly stated he wants to leave, Gunners can't get too much for him any more... cos the ball is now in Barce's court... Unlike in the Ronaldo case where the deal was probably agreed a while before it happened, here Wenger was still keen on keeping Fabregas but now that he has almost asked for a transfer out, it's very difficult to get the maximum sum. I guess Barce were already more or less aware of something when they came out boastfully that Fabregas wants to join them just days before Fab met Wenger...

  In present market where almost very player is valued so high let alone a 'star player', $30m is just too low considering Fabregas age and potential not to mention his current abilities already...

  But there is a problem for Arsenal. I think he may be allowed to buy himself out if Arsenal play hard ball. Not too sure how that works out though. And if he does so, I think Arsenal would get at most $25m for the balance 4 yrs of his salary.

  For the gunners now it's to try and squeeze Barce for as much as they can... $50m sounds a good deal for them. 

  Although I guess almost everyone expect Fabregas to leave Arsenal someday, but it's a little earlier than my expection... I thought he would go in another 1 or 2 yrs time when Xavi would be older and Fab reach the prime of his game...

  Oh well, one more talented Premier League player lost to the LaLiga...

• Bus&Soccer l0v3r (VO3x 1)

  19 May 10, 18:44

  i say ah

  
  
  
  Imbrahimovic plus Yaya
  
  
  haiz
  
  
  Bye Fab is u really wan to go  
  
  
  would like aw to buy bojan

• Poignant

  19 May 10, 20:12

  how about Arteta replacing Cesc?

• zocoss

  19 May 10, 21:25

  Yaya Toure Snubs Arsenal And Scuppers Cesc Fabregas' Move To Barcelona - Report

  

  Yaya Toure

   

   

  Barcelona midfielder Yaya Toure's decision to look to clubs other than Arsenal for a possible summer move has caused problems for the possible deal that would take Cesc Fabregas in the other direction, according to a report from The Daily Mail.
  
  The report claims that Toure, the brother of former Gunners defender Kolo, does not favour the Emirates as a destination, despite Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger being a keen admirer.
  
  "Toure is not going to replace Cesc. He will not play for Arsenal," the player's agent Dimitri Selcuk said.
  
  "There are very big clubs who are interested and we like these options more."
  
  Wenger is said to be less welcoming of other potential swap deals, possibly involving strikers Zlatan Ibrahimovic and Bojan or defenders Rafael Marquez and Dmytro Chygrynskiy, and would rather receive £50 million for Fabregas with which to rebuild his team.
  
  Barca reportedly value Fabregas at closer to £30m.
• zocoss

  19 May 10, 21:40

  Cesc Fabregas 'transfer to Barcelona': what the Spanish press is saying

  Reports in Spain suggest Barcelona will make an offer of €35 million for Cesc Fabregas but Arsenal will not accept anything below €40m.

   

  

  Final farewell? Cesc Fabregas is understood to have put in a request to move to Barcelona

  20 Minutos Barcelona - Cesc says adieu to Wenger

  "Cesc Fabregas has resigned himself to the fact he will win nothing with Arsenal and as such has requested a move back to Barcelona. And sentimentality will be the weapon Fabregas and Laporta use to convince Arsene Wenger of a deal.

  "A meeting with his manager was the first step but Wenger is not expected to accept any deal without a significant number of things in return - particularly money. The battle will start with Barca looking to keep Cesc's price around €40m but Arsenal will only open talks if the figure is raised to €50m.

  "In a bid to keep the price lower, Barca will include Ibrahimovic or Yaya Toure in the deal."

   

  Sport.es - Barca will pay €35m for Cesc but Arsenal want €10m more

  J.Gil/E.Blasco write: "Extensive contract talks are expected between the club and it seems there is no turning back now that the player has taken the decision to leave. In principle Barca will be willing to offer a figure close to €35m euros but Arsenal will hold out for more for their most emblematic player.

  "In England it is believed Arsenal will only accept a fee in the region of €45m. It is thought both parties will battle it out to find an agreement and despite Yaya Toure's refusal to go to Arsenal being a setback, it is far less critical than ensuring Cesc is with Barca next season."

   

  El Mundo Deportivo - Cesc to Wenger: I want to go to Barca

  "Cesc Fabregas has told Arsene Wenger he wants to abandon his career at Arsenal and return to Barcelona next season. The midfielder yesterday flew back to London to meet with his coach and ask that the club enters negotiations with the Catalan club. He would also have asked for any deal to be completed before the World Cup gets underway.

  "Last week Cesc publicly expressed his desire to one day return to the Nou Camp but the Spanish club have noted that Arsenal will not part with the midfielder for less than €40m. Barca are keen to pay no more than €35m given that they received no payment when he originally moved to the Emirates-based club in 2003."

   

  Goal.es - Barcelona will have to pay €50m if they want Cesc

  "Arsenal have asked for €45m but it will total €50m including a series of bonuses in the proposed deal.

  "Cesc Fabregas has one foot in the door at Barcelona, he will share the dressing room with Iniesta, Guardiola will have a luxurious midfield and the club will recover one of its most talented homegrown players. But Barcelona must pay nearly €50m in order to resign their player - an astronomical fee, one few could muster, particularly for a player who came from your own quarry."

   

   

   

  The Arsenal manager is believed to have taken the decision calmly and asked him to stay at Emirates Stadium for one more season, but the 23-year-old has set his heart on returning to his boyhood club this summer.
  

• Asromanista2001

  19 May 10, 22:02

  Yahya Toure is great for Arsenal !

  since Gallas is leaving, ! 1 blackie replace 1 blackie so the number of blackies stay the same at the club !

• zocoss

  20 May 10, 11:42

  Cesc Fabregas price war: Livid Arsenal hit back at Barcelona by pushing fee to £80m
  

   

  

  Farewell? Will Arsene Wenger be able to keep his young protege at the Emirates?

   

   

  New faces: As Barca unveil David Villa (right) the battle for Fabregas goes on...

   

   

  
  

  Arsenal last night hit back at Barcelona as they battle to cling on to their talismanic skipper Cesc Fabregas.

  The Premier League club said Fabregas is going nowhere unless the Spanish giants stump up a fee in the region of the £80million that lured Cristiano Ronaldo to Real Madrid from Manchester United.

  Barcelona had hoped to unveil both Fabregas and David Villa at the Nou Camp tomorrow and believe they have agreed terms with the Arsenal player.

  His club, however, remain in no mood to do business despite the 23-year-old telling Arsene Wenger on Tuesday that he wants to quit the Emirates to go back to his boyhood team.

  After signing Villa from Valencia for £34m yesterday, Barcelona’s focus has switched to tying up a deal for Fabregas with the same speed.

  Indeed, Barca’s desire to rush through the midfielder’s capture — they want to
  conclude a deal before he joins up with the Spain World Cup squad in Madrid on Monday — could prove to be their undoing.

  Having intimated the club would take an offer in the region of £50m to even consider doing business, Wenger and the Arsenal ’s board are now so determined to hang on to their captain that they are adamant it will take somewhere in the region of £80m for them to sell.

  That would provide Wenger with the funds to land players normally only within the grasp of Barca, Real, Chelsea, Manchester United and, more recently, Manchester City.

  There is no prospect of Barca parting with that kind of cash for Fabregas, although there is every possibility that an opening bid in the region of £30m will be faxed through to Arsenal today. As of last night no offer, official or otherwise, had been forthcoming.

  The fact that Fabregas has five years remaining on his deal at the Emirates, not four as previously believed, certainly strengthens Arsenal’s hand.

  Barca were yesterday playing a cagey game, no doubt mindful of remaining on the right side of FIFA’s regulations regarding transfers.

  Sporting director Txiki Begiristain said: ‘It’s great news that he wants to come here and I think that one day Cesc will have to come to Barca. But what matters is Arsenal and what their decision is. They think he is a very important player for them. We have to respect that.

  ‘I wish it was as soon as possible. But we have to respect Arsenal’s wishes and the contract he has. At times the wishes of players do not come true because they are under contract.’

   

  

  If you can't beat them... Cesc Fabregas scores a penalty against Barca to makeit 2-2 in the Champions League quarter-final, first leg

   

  Fabregas was doubtless hoping for a much more committed message from Barca after plucking up the courage to tell Wenger of his desire to leave.

  As Arsenal dig in, Fabregas could even be forced to hand in a written transfer request. Such an unedifying end to his seven years at Arsenal is the last thing the 23-year-old midfielder wants even if he has made his mind up to go.

  
  

• reyes

  20 May 10, 12:01

  it doesnt matter whether fab is from your own backyard. now u want him back, pay la! 50million pound. no less!

   

• reyes

  20 May 10, 12:03

  btw, forget yaya toure. his bro kolo will bad mouth arsenal. forget about him.

   

• Asromanista2001

  20 May 10, 12:09

  wait for free transfer lah or Fabregas can purposely play like shit, Arsenal will lose money mah like that.

• cheesiong

  20 May 10, 12:57

  If arsenal receive 50m, do you think Wenger will buy?

  I think he will stick with his youngster policy. If that the case,

  we need Fabregas. I don't want to see Arsenal slight down the league

  like liverpool this year.

• -Wanderer-

  20 May 10, 14:49

  Marquez, Yaya Toure, Ibrahimovic all play the positions that Arsenal have weaknesses in. Somehow, it is a good deal. But they will lose their main playmaker, a position they will need to fill eventually.

• angel7030

  20 May 10, 17:06

  Originally posted by Asromanista2001:

  Yahya Toure is great for Arsenal !

  since Gallas is leaving, ! 1 blackie replace 1 blackie so the number of blackies stay the same at the club !

  
  this is racist...should use Darly

• angel7030

  20 May 10, 17:11

  Originally posted by DemonFox:

  no deal!!. ibram is overated!! he lazy he slow he just another bendtner. give us messi and fabregas is urs. or inestia

  
  Give arsenal Messi???  no problem, but give us the whole of arsenal present team not including the manager