SOCCER:CESC FABREGAS'S hopes of a swift resolution to talks between Arsenal and Barcelona appear to have been dashed after the European champions indicated they would be willing to wait until transfer deadline day to complete his signing.
The clubs remain apart in their valuation of the 24-year-old, with Barcelona insistent the fees they feel they were due when losing the teenagers Jon Toral and Hector Bellerin to the Gunners in May, for a compensation package amounting to €670,000, should be built into any deal for Fabregas.
Neither club has indicated a willingness to back down and Barca, who have now effectively had two bids fall well short of Arsenal’s €45 million price, are now apparently content to wait.
“The experience of the last few years, and of last season, shows us we have right up until the last minute before the season starts (to sign players),” said the Barcelona vice-president, Josep Bartomeu, who signed Javier Mascherano from Liverpool three days before the cut-off in August 2010. “There is no rush.”
Asked about the danger of Arsenal accepting a higher bid for Fabregas, most likely from Real Madrid, who have indicated a willingness to pay up to €50 million, Bartomeu said: “We are well aware there are other clubs who can spend more money than us. But we will continue on our own path without paying too much attention to what others are doing.”
That willingness to wait will dismay Fabregas, who is contracted to the Londoners until 2015 but had hoped to see a return to his boyhood club smoothed before the weekend, when Arsenal depart on a commercially driven tour of Malaysia and China. The midfielder will not be on that two-match outing as he is suffering from a hamstring strain, but will instead remain at London Colney undertaking gym work with his personal trainer.
Barca defender Daniel Alves said: “I am convinced Cesc will join us. Arsenal are tourist class. Barcelona are in business class and any player would want to join us.”
Arsenal will resist selling him at what they consider to be a knockdown price, however, with negotiations likely to drag on. The Gunners may be firmer still in their resolution to retain Sami Nasri, who is due back for training today and will be on the flight to Kuala Lumpur on Sunday.
The Londoners remain braced for Manchester United to formalise their interest in the Frenchman, who has indicated an unwillingness to sign a new five-year contract worth €100,000 a week, but would only consider bids of around €28 million for the 24-year-old even though he has entered the last 12 months of his current deal.
Manchester City and Chelsea are monitoring Nasri’s situation, although Wenger is reluctant to lose the player to a domestic rival.
The manager hopes to introduce Gervinho, the Ivory Coast forward, to his playing staff today after the player underwent a medical ahead of an €12 million move from the French champions, Lille. Gervinho has agreed terms on a four-year deal and may yet be followed by the Valencia winger Juan Mata.
Arsenal are the Spain international’s principal suitor, with Liverpool’s interest having waned, and would cost around €22 million.
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