Arsenal ready to go to war with Barcelona over Fabregas

Arsene Wenger is ready to go to war with Barcelona in the battle to hold onto Cesc Fabregas.

Spanish giants Barcelona are ready to launch a £40m bid for Fabregas this summer and believe they may be able to lure him away unless Arsenal win some silverware this season.

But Arsenal chief executive Ivan Gazidis has already written to Barcelona to demand the Spanish giants stop their very public campaign to try to sign Fabregas.

Gazidis wanted to know why stories keep appearing in the Spanish press and for the club’s executives to stop making statements about the Arsenal captain.

Fabregas left Barcelona at 16 to join Arsenal but the Spanish club are now prepared to pay huge money to get him back - and see this summer as their big chance.

Gazidis fired the first shots in the battle with Barcelona over Fabregas before Christmas but the club are still standing firm in their stance that he is not for sale.

But Arsenal could face a battle to keep Fabregas after dropping nine points behind in the title race, with the Champions League their last realistic hope of silverware.

Fabregas, 22, still has four years left on his contract and Arsenal are ready to offer him a new and improved £120,000-a-week deal to fend off interest from Spain.

Gunners boss Wenger insists Fabregas is happy at Arsenal, the club are under no financial pressure to sell their prize asset and his long-term plans are all built around the Spaniard.

That is what has prompted Arsenal to get tough with Barcelona as they have moved ahead of Real Madrid in the battle to sign Fabregas.

Barcelona did try to reassure Arsenal that they were not “tapping-up" Fabregas and gave the Gunners other assurances that they were not acting illegally, but it is clear that they are desperate to sign the midfield ace.

Barcelona believe they may be able to lure Fabregas back to the Nou Camp this summer because of Arsenal’s failure to win a trophy since 2005 and Wenger not having signed big-name players to strengthen the squad.

Fabregas is also in danger of being caught in the crossfire of the forthcoming presidential elections at Barcelona this summer.

Current president Joan Laporta stands down this summer after two highly successful terms in charge and has named Alfons Godall as the man he wants to succeed him.

But Laporta’s arch enemy, Sandro Rosell, is also standing for election and both are desperate to strike an agreement with Fabregas to help them win the battle for control.