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.
