No deal: Hill-Wood says Barca won't pursue Fabregas
this summer
Barcelona are plotting a raid on
Arsenal this summer but their top target
is Gael Clichy rather than Cesc Fabregas.
Clichy impressed Nou Camp boss Pep Guardiola with two excellent
performances against Barca in the Champions League
quarter-final.
Guardiola has identified the need for a left back as a greater
priority than a central midfielder like Fabregas, although the
issue is clouded by the club's presidential elections in the
summer.
Gael force: Barcelona could make a bid for Clichy in
the summer
Meetings were held between representatives of the two
clubs when they clashed in the Champions League and Arsenal
chairman Peter Hill-Wood claimed the Catalans had made assurances
that they would not make a bid for Fabregas this
summer.
Barcelona distanced themselves from Hill-Wood's comments
yesterday, when technical secretary Txiki Begiristain revealed: 'We
never said we will not try to sign Cesc Fabregas. We will see what
happens.'
Instead, Barca insisted they had only given Arsenal assurances
that if they do decide they want to buy their captain they will
come directly to the club and not try to unsettle him via
agents.
But, as Hill-Wood also clumsily confessed, it is difficult to
see how the Arsenal skipper would get into a midfield nicely
balanced with Xavi, Andres Iniesta and Sergio Busquets at the
moment.
Fabregas, 22, appears to have been earmarked as the natural
successor to Xavi but the performances of the 30-year-old in recent
months suggest he has plenty of years ahead at the top level before
he thinks of stepping aside.
Barcelona's leading presidential candidate Sandro Rosell has
promised to bring Fabregas back to the city of his birth, but
precisely when that will be remains to be seen.
Guardiola would prefer to focus the summer recruitment campaign
on a high-calibre replacement for Thierry Henry, who looks set to
leave, probably for the USA, and bolster his squad in other areas,
including left back.
The Barca boss sees Clichy as a left-sided version of Dani
Alves, a full back capable of attacking fluently but with the
engine to carry out his defensive duties.
For Clichy, 24, it could provide the boost which propels
him into the France team, where he has struggled to get past
Manchester United's Patrice Evra and Barca's Eric
Abidal.
He has two years left on his Arsenal contract but Clichy has not
been at his most consistent this season. His place may even have
come under pressure from Kieran Gibbs had the England Under 21
defender not broken his foot in November.
Gibbs is close to a return but manager Arsene Wenger confirmed
Thomas Vermaelen, who injured a calf muscle at Tottenham on
Wednesday, is expected to miss the rest of the season.
'It looks like three weeks and that means the season is over for
him,' said Wenger, who also revealed Denilson is doubtful for
Sunday's game at Wigan.
Robin van Persie, who looked in superb form when he came on at
White Hart Lane on Wednesday after five months out injured,
reported no problems on his return. 'He came back very well,' said
Wenger. 'It was a massive gamble as he had not played but we'll see
how he is and hopefully he will get a few games now.'