Arsenal Agree to £35m Sale of Cesc Fabregas to Barcelona

But will Nou Camp side pay the asking price for the Emirates Stadium skipper?

ARSENAL are ready to reluctantly sell Cesc Fabregas for £35million.
Arsene Wenger is unlikely to stand in the Spaniard’s way after persuading him not to leave last season for his beloved Barcelona.

Arsenal insiders are convinced this will be Fabregas’ last season at the Emirates despite having four years of his £120,000-a-week contract to run.

The Spain international is disillusioned with the club’s failure to lift a trophy since 2005.

Boss Wenger knows it will be virtually impossible to convince the ambitious Fabregas, 23, to prolong his stay. He was bitterly disappointed when Arsenal refused a £29m offer from Barcelona last summer.

Wenger convinced him to have one last crack at leading Arsenal’s young team to glory but they have fallen short again and Fabregas voiced his growing frustration in an interview in Spain.

A club insider said: “There is a feeling Cesc has gone as far as he can with Arsenal.

“He has been with us eight years and believes he has shown great loyalty.

“The team will finish the season empty-handed again and he fears that situation will not change.”

SOURCE: The Sun

There is no doubting that Cesc Fabregas has not been at this best this term and that another season without silverware will have ramifications on the Spaniard’s state of mind, but are Arsenal ready to sell their captain? Wouldn’t such a sale admit their shortcomings? Arsene Wenger has stated in recent press conferences that he plans no major player sales so not sure if there is much to this story other than a ‘club insider’ who could of course be totally fictitious.

Cesc has been continually linked with a return to the Nou Camp over the past few seasons and perhaps the most pertinent question to ask in relation to such interest would be “where exactly would Fabregas fit into Guardiola’s plans?”.

Given that it would be next to impossible to play Xavi, Andres Iniesta and Fabregas in the same midfield perhaps any move to sign the Arsenal captain would occur only when Xavi was nearing retirement, which doesn’t seem imminent.

Wenger also reportedly faces a challenge to keep other big names players with the likes of Robin Van Persie, Gael Clichy, Andrei Arshavin and Samir Nasri all strongly linked with moves away from North London. There is a sense that this summer will be a big one for the Gunners and most supporters will be looking to see their club buy established players whilst keeping those in the squad who have something to offer.

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Manchester United Hold Talks With David De Gea But Yet To Agree A £17.5m Fee With Atletico Madrid

Old Trafford club look set to land Vicente Calderón Stadium star.

Manchester United have held talks with Atletico Madrid goalkeeper David De Gea according to the player’s agent Hector Rincon.

United manager Sir Alex Ferguson wants a long-term replacement for retiring Edwin van der Sar and has settled on the 20-year-old.

The Spain U21 international broke into the first-team in 2009 and has been scouted by the Red Devil’s goalkeeping coach Eric Steele.

Ferguson himself watched De Gea play Valencia last September.

Rincon revealed his player does have a release cause but Atletico may be persuaded to sell for cheaper.

He also says Wigan have made an attempt to sign him as well as a host of big European and English clubs.

“Well, we did have talks with Manchester United but, first of all, they always look for an agreement with the club,” Rincon told Sport.co.uk.

“Anyway, most of the biggest European teams have shown interest in David De Gea.”

“What I can tell you is that his release clause now is €20 million (£17.5million), but I have no idea if the club would sell him for less.

“Right now, the player has a contract with Atletico Madrid and if Manchester United or any other team want him they will have to reach an agreement or pay the whole release clause.”

“Well, some time ago, before he became an important player in Atletico, Wigan made an offer, but the club rejected it,” Rincon added.

“Recently, I don’t want to say any names but all the big clubs in England and in Europe have asked about him.”

Manchester United Hold Talks With David De Gea But Yet To Agree A £17.5m Fee With Atletico Madrid, 9.0 out of 10 based on 3 ratings

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Manchester United Agree £17.5m Deal to Sign Atletico Madrid Keeper David De Gea: Spanish Press Claim La Liga side Have Accepted Offer

Old Trafford club to seal signing of promising Spaniard.

Manchester United have reportedly agreed a deal with Atletico Madrid to sign young keeper David De Gea this summer, according to reports in the Spanish press today. Sir Alex Ferguson has sent scouts to monitor the talented 20 year as the Old Trafford side look to replace Edwin van der Sar who is set to hang up his gloves and retire from the game this summer.

Spanish publication Sport suggests that a deal has been agreed between the two sides that will see the Spanish Under 21 international join Manchester United for a fee of €20m (£17.5m) dependent on the Madrid born goalie agreeing personal terms with the Premier League table toppers.

De Gea has shown maturity beyond his years to become the first choice custodian at the Vicente Calderon and helped his side to clinch the Europa League in his first season at the club last term. Ferguson has been linked to a myriad of potential replacements for Van der Sar with the likes of Manuel Neuer, Hugo Lloris, Maarten Stekelenburg and Liverpool’s Pepe Reina often being mentioned as possible purchases.

Atletico Madrid are reportedly in something of a financial predicament that has led to much speculation that some of their top talents may be offloaded this summer with the likes of Sergio Aguero and Diego Forlan linked with big money exits and the fact that Quique Sánchez Flores’s side are currently languishing in eight place and could miss out on European football altogether next term may force the club to sell to balance the books.

Manchester United brought in Anders Lindegaard as further back up and there has been much speculation that Tomasz Kuszczak will leave in the summer. Sir Alex Ferguson has been looking at bringing in top young talent to help build a new generation of players to mix with those coming through the youth ranks and the purchases of Javier Hernandez and Chris Smalling appear to have paid off and David De Gea is seen by many as an ideal long term replacement for Edwin Van der Sar.

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