• Premier League

Barca make offer to Arsenal for Cesc

ESPN staff
June 2, 2010
Xavi is confident of forming a partnership with Cesc Fabregas at Barcelona © Getty Images
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Barcelona have confirmed they have lodged an offer with Arsenal for the transfer of Cesc Fabregas.

The Catalans are keen to secure the signature of a player they brought through the ranks prior to his move to Arsenal. They said recently that they were prepared to bide their time, but have now ramped up the pressure by confirming they have entered into formal dialogue with the Gunners.

"Everyone knows that Cesc wants to play at the club and everyone knows we also want to sign him, but there is a third party, a fundamental one and that is Arsenal," Barca director general Joan Oliver told the club's official website. "Any deal goes through them and June 1 saw the start of an official period of negotiations.

"Until the day before talks were informal, but yesterday they became formal and the usual mechanism is to present a formal and concrete offer. So, yesterday afternoon, we presented a serious offer, firm and in writing to Arsenal."

Barca's sporting vice president Rafael Yuste is hopeful their positive relationship with Arsenal will help see the deal through to a positive conclusion.

He said: "I am hopeful he will join soon. We will not rush this deal, but we will not pause either. The ball is now in Arsenal's court and as we have an exceptional relationship with them, I am optimistic."

Barca midfielder Xavi claims Cesc is certain to leave Arsenal for Camp Nou this summer. He has previously said Fabregas has "Barca DNA" and now believes the deal is set to go through.

Asked if he expects Fabregas to join Barca this summer, Xavi told Sport: "Yes, certainly, and it also had to be like this.

"Two years ago, I said Cesc would end up playing for Barcelona, and now it is clearer than ever. He has also expressed publicly that he wants to come to Barcelona and when a player wants to move to some place he ends up going.

"It is clear that Cesc will come to Barcelona."

Reports suggest Arsene Wenger is looking to sign Bordeaux playmaker Yoann Gourcuff as a replacement should Fabregas move on.

© ESPN Sports Media Ltd.
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