Sky Sources are reporting that former Gunners captain Cesc Fabregas is now Man United’s main transfer target of the summer.
United, who recently ‘lost’ Thiago Alcantara to Bayern Munich after the deal to take the Spanish midfielder to Old Trafford looked certain, have turned their attention to Barcelona teammate Fabregas and will look to pair him up with another former Arsenal man Robin van Persie.
Captain Fab
Fabregas was named Arsenal captain in 2008 after the departure of William Gallas and made 303 appearances in total – scoring 57 goals between 2003 and 2011.
He was a fan favourite at the Emirates, at the heart of a young side which included the likes of Samir Nasri and Gael Clichy, and even won the PFA’s Young Player of the Year Award in 2008. Statistics show that in Fabregas’ time at Arsenal, his influence on the side dwarfed that of Xavi and Iniesta’s at Barca.
A deal bringing Fabregas back to Arsenal would have been fairly straight-forward, as part of the deal that took him to Spain was that Arsenal had a first-option buyback clause in the player’s contract.
However United want to beat Arsene Wenger to the prize as David Moyes searches for a marquee signing in his first Mancunian transfer window.
The Deal
Moyes has lodged a £25million bid for Fabregas, although Barcelona are likely to hold out for at least £30million. The sum is similar to the £25.4million which took Cesc from London to Barcelona in 2011.
However the Catalans’ £50million signing of Neymar could open the door for a Fabregas departure, as Cesc, used at a striker rather than an attacking midfielder, has found himself stuck behind Xavi and Iniesta in the Barca pecking order.
United would more than likely use Cesc as an attacking midfielder alongside Michael Carrick, with Anderson, Tom Cleverley and Shinji Kagawa making up the numbers.
Settled
Although there has been plenty of speculation, Fabregas has maintained that he is happy in Barcelona, as we reported in June:
"I've always said that I'm happy at Barca. Whoever says that I'm leaving doesn't know me and has never spoken with me," he said.
"If someone says anything that isn't that I want to play at Barca, it's completely absurd." Concluded Fabregas.
If Cesc comes back to England, he comes to Arsenal. Simple as that really.
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