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Arsenal In ‘Advanced Talks’ Over £40m Deal To Re-Sign Cesc Fabregas
Arsenal are in advanced talks with Barcelona over re-signing Cesc Fabregas in a £40m deal that could see defender Thomas Vermaelen move in the opposite direction, according to reports.
Fabregas has been subject to jeers from his own fans at times this season with the Nou Camp faithful picking him out for rough treatment following a disappointing campaign that’s set to see the end up without a trophy.
The midfielder has also been played out of position in the majority of his 26 La Liga starts this season while he’s been substituted in 27 of the 42 games he’s started in all competitions. I mean he’s no Lukas Podolski, but that’s still a huge number of games to find yourself being hauled off before the end.
Understandably this has led to speculation that the 26-year-old is unsettled and it seems Arsene Wenger is ready to try and sign his protege for the second time, with CaughtOffside claiming that the boss has made Fabregas his No.1 summer transfer target and is already in advanced negotiations over a potential deal.
The report suggests that we’re prepared to pay around £40m to bring Cesc back to the Emirates, while a swap deal involving Thomas Vermaelen has also been mooted.
Vermaelen has been a long-term target for Barca and with the Belgian expected to leave this summer after losing his first team place, he could be tempted by the opportunity to be Carles Puyol’s replacement at the Nou Camp.
Barcelona are expected to undergo major squad surgery this summer after a poor season and they will also be planning ahead with their impending transfer ban postponed for the time being, so they might be tempted to cash-in on Cesc and use the funds to strengthen the squad elsewhere.
It’s not mentioned in this report, but I’m sure we have a buy-back clause inserted into Cesc’s contract that means we’ll have first refusal to re-sign him if Barca decide to sell – although the exact buy-back figure is unclear.
If such a clause exists, then I’m sure Arsene wouldn’t hesitate in activating it if Fabregas wants out this summer. Many will question why Cesc would leave Barca just three years after fighting so hard to secure a move back ‘home’ in 2011, but he’s not appreciated at the Nou Camp and his abilities aren’t being utilised as he’s not played in his best position – the quarter back role.
CaughtOffside may not be the most reliable of sources but the majority of the mainstream media have also reported that Fabregas is unsettled at Barca, so there could be something in this.
Talk of a move to Man Utd refuses to go away but there’s only one club Fabregas will join if he comes back to the Premier League and that’s Arsenal. It’s as simple as that.
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