David
Moyes fancies the frustrated midfielder but Barcelona must give Arsenal first
option to buy back their former captain
Cesc Fabregas will decide his
Barcelona future next week - and still dreams of a return to Arsenal.
Former Gunners captain Fabregas will
meet with Barca coach Tito Vilanova once the Spanish season ends this weekend
to discuss whether the Spain international should stay at the Nou Camp for what
will be a World Cup year.
The Nou Camp giants do not want to
sell, but Fabregas has grown frustrated because even though he has done well in
domestic competition but is often overlooked for the big European games.
Incoming Manchester United boss David Moyes is a big admirer
of the 26-year-old midfielder and would like to lure him to Old Trafford.
We understand Manchester City and
Chelsea are also watching developments.
But Arsenal hold the trump card as
they wrote a “first refusal” clause into Fabregas’ Barcelona deal, which was
worth around £40m in total.
Two years on, the north Londoners
would be able to buy Fabregas back for between £20m and £25m.
If Barcelona receive any
offer for the player, the terms of the buy-back are that they must inform
Arsenal to give them first option.
Fabregas has reservations about
going to another English club, especially after seeing pal Robin van Persie
become public enemy No1 when he gave up the Arsenal captaincy for a move to Man
United.
The Spaniard has claimed he would
love to rejoin the Londoners, his club from the age of 16, one day and the
uncertainty about his future at Barcelona has suddenly raised the prospect.
Until recently, Arsenal boss Arsene
Wenger had been reluctant to go back to players he's worked with before, but he
has since re-signed ex-Gunners Sol Campbell, Thierry Henry and Jens Lehmann.
An Emirates 'homecoming' still seems
a long way off with Fabregas and Barcelona undecided about what happens next,
but United’s interest may force the issue.
Arsenal do have serious cash to spend this summer, and a
midfielder is on their agenda - as are all other areas of the team.
Wenger wants a keeper too, with QPR’s Julio Cesar, Asmir Begovic of
Stoke and Sunderland No.1 Simon Mignolet among those on his radar.
They are also watching developments
on Real Madrid’s Gonzalo Higuain and remain in for Fiorentina’s Stevan Jovetic
- although Juventus are also keen on him - as they look for a stellar-name
striker.