Arsenal have rejected a £27
million bid from Barcelona for
skipper Cesc Fabregas, according
to reports in the Guardian, Daily
Mail, and The Sun.
- Barca make contact over Cesc
- Won't break bank for Fabregas
- Cesc happy but leaves door
open
Fabregas once again publicly
revealed his admiration for the
Catalan club and their manager
Pep Guardiola this week, and this
latest development in the ongoing
saga over the midfielder's future
is sure to add weight to claims
that he will finally depart Emirates
Stadium for Camp Nou over the
summer.
Barca president Sando Rosell has
made it clear the club will not
spend more than £35 million on
Fabregas due to the 24-year-old's
recurring hamstring injuries.
Rosell said recently: "If last year
we offered 40 million Euros
[£35.5 million], it is clear that this
year his value is less. Since then
there has been wear and tear and
he is worth less.
"Guardiola knows the values of
players and Cesc's is less than 40
million Euros. Barcelona will offer
less and, if they don't accept, then
he won't come."
It is understood the most recent
offer was made verbally by
Barca's vice president Josep Maria
Bartomeu during his visit to
London this week, but was
rejected immediately by Gunners
chief executive Ivan Gazidis.
Barcelona are expected to make
one final play to snare Fabregas,
however with both clubs
evidently differing on their value
of the player, it appears the stand-
off may be a permanent one.
Meanwhile, Arsenal are back in
talks with Velez Sarsfield over
midfielder Ricardo Alvarez. The
recently crowned Clausura
champions were unwilling to
budge from the £11 million price
tag placed on Alvarez during
discussions last month, but it is
reported in the Daily Mail that both
clubs will be heading back to the
negotiating table in order to
complete the deal this summer.
February 16, 2011, 01:02:10 PM