• Premier League

Fabregas hopeful and Barcelona 'sure' of summer deal

ESPN staff
July 26, 2011
Cesc Fabregas is in London to sort out his Arsenal future © PA Photos
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ESPNsoccernet has been told that the negotiations over the transfer of Arsenal's Cesc Fabregas to Barcelona are 'very complicated', but that the player is hopeful that it will be resolved.

Fabregas, 24, has made it clear that he would be happy to re-join the Spanish champions, whom he left at the age of 16, and the two clubs have been trying to come to an agreement all summer.

Barcelona have made two bids for the midfielder and have yet to reach the €40 million valuation set by the Gunners, but the club's vice-president Josep Maria Bartomeu claimed on Monday that he was confident Fabregas would be joining by the end of the transfer window.

''It is a sure thing that we will make one more signing. [Alexis] Sanchez was always our No. 1 target. Fabregas was always No. 2,'' he said. ''We are discreet and prefer not to talk about signings, but we have time until August 30 to make sure some things happen and I can tell you they will.''

However, a source close to the deal has told ESPNsoccernet: "It is very complicated, and as yet no deal has been finalised. The player wants to go and hopefully there will be a resolution. There isn't one as yet."

Meanwhile, Arsenal look set to lose defender Emmaneul Eboue to Galatasaray as the two clubs have reportedly agreed a fee of £4 million, while forward Jay Emmanuel-Thomas is also on his way out of the Emirates as he closes in on a £1 million move to Ipswich.

© ESPN Sports Media Ltd.
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