Arsenal prepared to sell Cesc Fabregas to Barcelona – report

Cesc Fabregas, Arsenal

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For all the latest reports and transfer rumours, visit our dedicated section here.Arsenal are prepared to sell Cesc Fabregas to Barcelona this summer, a source close to the north London club has reportedly told BBC Sport.

The Gunners have already rejected one offer, believed to be in the region of £27 million, and are braced for another to come their way from the European champions, who, according to reports in Spain, have begun talks with a sports agency over maximising Fabregas’ commercial appeal should he head to Camp Nou.

Of the opening bid, a senior Arsenal official told the BBC: “The offer was made formally in writing to our chief executive Ivan Gazidis, and we said no straight away.”

Upon being asked if the club expected an improved offer to be forthcoming this week, the source said: “Possibly yes, and if it’s enough then I expect we’ll have to sell.”

Fabregas left the Barcelona academy at La Masia as a 16-year-old to move to north London and has been an ever present for boss Arsene Wenger, but the Spaniard has repeatedly been linked with a return to his boyhood club in recent years.

Last summer the Gunners rejected two offers for their captain, but Barcelona president Sandro Rosell has suggested that he will not be willing to spend more than £35 million on the midfielder, believing that the player’s recent injury problems have decreased his value.