Finally off? Ces Fabregas (right) looked unhappy in
training this week
Barcelona are certain they have finally
succeeded in their long pursuit of Cesc Fabregas with a package
worth around £31million.
Arsenal were still waiting to receive any such
bid but the clamour from reliable Catalan sources suggested a
verbal agreement was very close.
And to make matters worse for Arsene Wenger, he
also looks set to lose Samir Nasri to Manchester City after a
change of heart at the Emirates.
The latest Barcelona bid for Fabregas is thought
to be a £25.5m transfer fee plus £5.25m of add-ons, depending on
the Arsenal captain’s success at the Nou Camp.
Fabregas has agreed to forgo £4.4m he is owed by
Arsenal as a loyalty payment, which had been a sticking point in
this summer’s negotiations.
Barcelona have included this sum in the transfer
package, claiming it takes the total beyond the £35m asking price,
but Arsenal see this as a payment saved, rather than part of the
fee paid.
The clubs are deep in talks about the details,
such as how much is to be paid up front. The Gunners want the
£25.5m now but Barca are offering £18m with the rest to follow next
year.
Another exit? Samir Nasri could now follow Fabregas
out
Arsenal appear to have accepted that
Barcelona cannot greatly increase their bid by the end of the
month, and that Fabregas is set on returning to the club he left
eight years ago.
The 24-year-old has not played for Arsenal since
a defeat at Bolton in April. Wenger was ready to name him in the
squad for Tuesday’s Champions League play-off against Udinese, but
the midfielder is well short of match fitness.
The latest move is set to bring an end to one of
the longest-running transfer sagas and Fabregas could even be
unveiled by the weekend.
The midfielder has made it clear this summer that
he wants to finally rejoin the club he left as a 15-year-old
boy.
Arsenal have also decided to accept bids of £22m
for Nasri, which could leave them bereft ahead of their opener at
Newcastle on Saturday.
Juan Mata is expected to join from Valencia and
Wenger is chasing at least one centre half.
Arsenal fans, who have put up with six seasons
without a trophy, have only seen Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain and
Gervinho arrive in major deals this summer.
Wenger, who turned the Gunners into a force in
English football in the 90s, is under pressure to end their long
wait for silverware.
But with the threat of both Manchester clubs,
Chelsea and a rejuvenated Liverpool, that task appears as tough as
ever.