Why Arsene Wenger may decide to cash in on Cesc Fabregas this summer

Sell Cesc Fabregas? You must be mad.

That would appear to be the logical conclusion that Arsene Wenger would reach given a nano-second of serious thought about Barcelona's bid to sign the young midfielder.

After all, this is the player who Wenger entrusted with the captaincy of Arsenal at the age of 21.

A player who is rated by many good judges as one of the most gifted and tactically aware midfielders in the Premier League.

And, on top of that, young Fabregas has frequently and publicly stated his affinity and loyalty to the club that signed him from Barcelona six years ago, when he was just 16 years old.

Yet, as Wenger reflects on a fourth season without a trophy, and the progress his young team is making in their game of catch-up with Manchester United, Chelsea and Liverpool, the Arsenal boss might well decide that £40 million is an offer that's too good to turn down.

Ultimately it will be his decision - no-one else in the Gunners' hierarchy will make it.

Fabregas will, of course, have his say. In fact, if the young Spaniard becomes disturbed by the transfer speculation he might willingly seek a return to his Catalan roots.

The Emirates hierarchy know that they can grab a mammoth return on the inspired investment of £750,000 they paid for Fabregas to lure him away from the Nou Camp.

But Wenger's decision will be based on what's best for the long-term development of his football club - not the promise of an immediate payday to boost the Arsenal coffers.

However, what might appear to be unthinkable now could yet become reality if cold hard statistics are used in the final reckoning. The facts suggest it may not be the disaster many Arsenal fans fear.

Fabregas had a slow start to the season after his efforts with the Spain team who triumphed in the European Championship.

He missed the pre-season preparations, and Arsenal's start to the campaign was hardly the best.

But around early winter they began to pick up, only for Fabregas to be injured in December against Liverpool.

He did not play again until April. But far from crumble in the absence of their captain, Arsenal thrived.

They went on an unbeaten run that consolidated their place in the Premier League top-four.

And the club also progressed to the semi-finals of the FA Cup and Champions League. All without Fabregas.

Wenger knows he has young talent coming through, after his youth team won the FA Youth Cup, while the likes of Denilson, Abou Diaby and Samir Nasri will surely only improve with another year's experience under their belt.

Now the manager needs to inject proven experience - and you can buy your club a fair portion of that with more than £40m to spend.

The manager keeps the money he generates from transfers to add to the kitty provided by the club.

That could suddenly become a lot of cash - and the opportunity that would bring will not have escaped Wenger's notice.

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