Wenger ‘Confident’ Bargain £25m Fabregas Will Choose Arsenal Over Man Utd

With the summer transfer window now 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, more on the future of Cesc Fabregas.

Arsenal are ready to go head-to-head with Manchester United for the signature of Cesc Fabregas with boss Arsene Wenger said to be confident the midfielder would opt to return to the Emirates should he decide to leave Barcelona, according to reports today.

The 26-year-old has been strongly linked with a return to the Premier League just two years after leaving Arsenal to return to Barcelona. The Spanish international’s time at the Nou Camp hasn’t going according to plan as he’s struggled to establish himself as an important first team player and when he does play, he’s often played out of position.

Manchester United have made Fabregas their No.1 target and have already had two bids turned down with boss David Moyes declaring on Thursday that the champions pursuit of the midfielder was still “ongoing”. However, the Daily Mail claim that Arsenal are also keen on luring him back to England and boss Arsene Wenger is believed to be confident his former skipper would choose a return to north London over a switch to Old Trafford if he decides he wants a move.

Wenger confirmed last week that Arsenal have have a clause in Fabregas’s contract and hinted the north Londoners would be interested if he was available, but the Frenchman claimed he’s been told the midfielder has decided to remain at the Nou Camp for one more year.

‘We have the clause in the contract so we would be on alert. At the moment, Fabregas has decided to stay one more year at Barcelona. 

‘Unless he has changed his mind, I don’t know but that’s what I’ve been told.’Wenger is quoted as saying in the Daily Mail.

The newspaper suggests the clause allows Arsenal, and only Arsenal, to buy Fabregas back at a cut-price £25m if Barcelona accept an offer from another club. So theoretically, Barca could accept a £50m bid from United but would be forced to sell him for just £25m to Arsenal if Fabregas elected to return to the Emirates.

However, any move this summer looks highly unlikely, despite Arsenal and United’s interest. Several Barcelona players have claimed Fabregas has confirmed to them he’s definitely staying at the Nou Camp,  while Barcelona vice-president Josep Maria Bartomeu also reiterated the clubs stance today, insisting that Fabregas would not be sold this summer, telling reporters:

“United’s interest for Cesc Fabregas is obvious, he’s a great player but it does not bother us.

“It does not matter what they offer us, we are not selling him.”

“If there was a higher offer would we accept it? No. We’re proud that a club like that wants one of our players,” Bartomeu is quoted as saying by the BBC

So, it looks like Arsenal would be ready to battle United should Fabregas come on the market but unless something drastic happens over the next few weeks, they wont be getting their hands on him this summer. Barcelona officials, Arsene Wenger and his current team mates all claim he’ll stay.

However, intriguingly, amid all the speculation, Fabregas himself is yet to come out and commit to Barca and the players silence is still leaving some questioning whether he’s still contemplating his future.

Read more Arsenal transfer news | Man Utd transfer news

What do you think? Will Fabregas stay at Barcelona this summer, or will he come back to the Premier League? If so, will it be to Arsenal or United? Share your views below.