United Make Contact Over Shock Fabregas Deal, But Arsenal Have First Option

With the summer transfer window set to re-open, there is plenty of gossip doing the rounds in the newspapers so we’ll keep you up-to-date with the latest transfer rumours. Today, Man Utd eye Cesc Fabregas.

Manchester United have opened talks with Barcelona over the potential signing of former Arsenal skipper Cesc Fabregas but the Gunners have first option to re-sign the midfielder if the Catalans decide to sell, according the Evening Standard.

The report claims United are determined to ease fans fears after the retirement of Sir Alex Ferguson by making a huge signal of intent in the transfer market and have targetted a sensational swoop for Fabregas.

After coming through the Barcelona youth academy, Fabregas spent eight years in north London with Arsenal before making a ‘dream’ return to the Nou Camp in 2011. His time in Spain hasn’t quiet gone according to plan though with the 26-year-old struggling to hold down a regular first team spot in Tito Vilanova’s starting eleven, and when he does play he’s largely played out of his favoured position.

The Express claim Barca are ready to make some serious changes to the squad following their humiliating Champions League exit and are willing to listen to offers for Fabregas, with Premier League champions Manchester United understood to have made contact to register their interest in taking him to Old Trafford.

However, the newspaper suggests the La Liga champions still owe Arsenal £5m of the £35m fee they agreed two years ago and the Gunners are believed to have inserted a buy-back clause in to the contract when they sold their skipper, so they will have first refusal if the playmaker is available this summer.

Arsene Wenger said last January that he felt Fabregas would play for Arsenal again one day as he was an ‘Arsenal man’ who still watches every game.

“I’m not convinced that he will not one day come back here because he is a real Arsenal man. “He loves Arsenal, he watches every Arsenal game.” Wenger is quoted as saying by the Evening Standard

With Paul Scholes retiring, Anderson being tipped for a move and continued doubts over the long-term fitness of Darren Fletcher, United may be on the look out for another central midfielder this summer and the signing of Cesc Fabregas would certainly be a stunning welcome gift to in-coming boss David Moyes.

However, any potential move will very-much depend on Arsenal as they will have to make a huge decision over whether to activate their buy-back option if indeed Barca are ready to cash in. The Express claim the Gunners are expected to spend big this summer, particularly if they finish in the top four, but the signing of Fabregas would use up the majority of their reported transfer budget leaving Wenger with little left to strengthen other areas with. But could they pass-up the chance to re-sign a player of Fabregas’s quality and potentially see him sign for one of their rivals instead?

There is also the small matter of what the player wants. Fabregas will surely be reluctant to leave the Nou Camp, despite his frustrations at lack of playing time. No doubt he still loves Arsenal but he left the Gunners for a reason and Wenger’s side are no-nearer to being genuine title-challengers since he left, so it would be something of  a backwards step if he did return to north London.

But would he sign for Man Utd – one of Arsenal’s rivals – and risk losing his ‘legendary’ status among the Emirates faithful? I’m not convinced about that either. It’s certainly an intriguing situation, particularly if Barcelona decide to sell, and worth keeping an eye on over the coming weeks but if I had to bet on it, I’d back Fabregas to still be a Barca player next season.

Read more Arsenal transfer news | Man Utd transfer news

Would Arsenal fans like to see Fabregas come back to the club? Would United supporters welcome him to Old Trafford? Get involved in the comments section.