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Barca deny Cesc price report

Cesc Fabregas has found himself in the transfer spotlight © Getty Images

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Barcelona have dismissed suggestions that Arsenal have told them to double their bid for Cesc Fabregas.

Spain international Fabregas is at the centre of arguably the biggest summer transfer saga, as Arsenal are reported to have turned down a £29 million opening gambit from Barca.

Reports on Monday suggested Arsenal had returned to the negotiating table, telling Barca to double their offer. The reports have been met with surprise by the Camp Nou club who claim the only contact they have had from the Gunners is the refusal of their offer.

"They said they would not sell, it's logical therefore that they have not set a price for him," Barca director general Joan Oliver said. "We made a formal offer. The only official response we have from Arsenal is that they are not ready to sell the player, for which it would be difficult for them to be putting a price when they say they are not selling."

Oliver is not fazed by the prospect of a protracted transfer saga, but is aware Arsenal hold the aces.

"On our part, after having made an offer we are ready to sign the deal this very morning," he said. "We still have time to do it, but it is a deal we cannot do just by ourselves."

Barca could be prepared to offer players as well as cash to lure Arsenal into selling Fabregas and Yaya Toure's agent Dimitri Seluk claims his client could be a makeweight.

Toure had been expected to move to Manchester City to join his brother Kolo, but now Seluk believes his client could be on Arsenal's radar.

"There's a lot of interest in the deal," Seluk told Rac-1. "Arsene Wenger likes him and Arsenal are interested. If the conditions are good, everything can be finished soon.

"He could come into the Cesc deal and Barca and Arsenal are struggling to come to an agreement.

"Everything has changed with City, because they talk a lot but then afterwards they don't appear to be a rich club but rather a bankrupt one."

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