Premier League champions Manchester United have lodged a £25 million bid for the unsettled Barcelona midfielder Cesc Fabregas, reports the BBC.
The Red Devils have been linked with several midfielders this season and it is understood that having missed out on Barcelona prodigy Thiago Alcantara, new manager David Moyes has switched his attention to Fabregas, whose future has also been well speculated in the media.
The 26-year-old however has insisted time and again this summer that he doesn’t want to leave the Catalan club, and is willing to fight for places under Tito Vilanova. Ladbrokes have Fabregas at 1/4 to stay at Camp Nou, however that hasn’t stopped the Premier League rumours and it is understood that the midfielder is open to a return to England if Barcelona accept any offers.
Fabregas was one of the brightest products of the La Masia academy when Arsene Wenger signed him in 2003, when he was just 16 years of age.
The Spaniard progressed gradually through the ranks at the North London club and became the club skipper in November 2008, and spent eight memorable years at the club, scoring 57 goals in 303 appearances.
He was then signed by Barcelona on a five-year-deal in August 2011 for a reported fee in the region of £25.4 million.
However Arsenal have a first refusal on the midfielder. That means if any club makes a formal offer and Barcelona accepts their bid, then the Gunners will have the option to match it as well.
In his two years stay at Barcelona, the highly gifted midfielder has made over 90 appearances and won the Copa del Rey in 2011-12 and La Liga in 2012-13.
However, he failed to make a bright impression under new manager Tito Vilanova, that has fuelled speculations that he might leave the club in near future.
It is reported that Barcelona have considered the offer, but feel that the price is well below the Spanish club’s valuation of the player.
Barcelona look unlikely to sell yet another prized asset, having sold Thiago Alcantara to Bayern Munich, but can be tempted to part ways if Manchester United come up strongly with a really good tempting offer.
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