Source: Daily_Mail
Cesc Fabregas deal may never happen, says Pep Guardiola
Barcelona are expected to make one final bid to land Cesc Fabregas from Arsenal - but Pep Guardiola fears the deal may never happen. [LNB]Gunners boss Arsene Wenger called for the pursuit to stop at the weekend - but the appeal has fallen on deaf ears in Catalonia, with Barca coach Guardiola reiterating that he wanted Fabregas at the Nou Camp.[LNB] Transfer tussle: Cesc Fabregas is at the centre of a tug of war[LNB]'I think that Cesc will cost a lot,' said Guardiola in his first press conference of the pre-season. 'We want him to come, but I understand that he is an important player to Arsenal and if they don't want to negotiate, he won't come.[LNB]'I'm not optimistic or pessimistic and understand that Wenger wants to keep him from other teams in England and Madrid, who would also like him. He is a great player.'[LNB]Rosell is planning to submit a new £34million bid is expected to be presented, although Wenger and chief executive Ivan Gazidis are heading to their pre-season camp in Austria on Monday.[LNB]Put your shirt on it: Fabregas was forced to don the Barca jersey during Spain's World Cup celebrations[LNB]The offer is £5m more than the £29m first proposal which was dismissed immediately on June 1, but it is still well of the level that is likely to interest the Gunners.[LNB]Rosell, who feels his predecessor Joan Laporta seriously damaged relations between Barca and Arsenal, indicated at the end of last week that Fabregas could be too difficult a signing to pull off this summer.[LNB]But the Spanish champions have not given up and a return to pre-season training on Monday accelerates the need for Guardiola to get his squad together.[LNB]Barca added versatile Brazilian full-back Adriano Correa from Sevilla at the weekend and have already signed Spain striker David Villa from Valencia. [LNB]They have cooled on Javier Mascherano as a replacement for Yaya Toure, with the Liverpool man more likely to head for Inter Milan, and Guardiola believes Fabregas can be turned into a holding midfielder despite his brilliance for Arsenal in a more advanced role.[LNB]'It depends on the economic prospects of the club,' said the coach. 'We are looking at players with Toure's characteristics, but if we sign Cesc we can adapt him to that position and find another more attacking player.[LNB]'It depends on the progress of negotiations we have open.'[LNB]They may still bring in another defender and want a replacement for YayaToure, but Fabregas remains the priority.[LNB]Guardiola would ideallylike his squad completed before heading to the Far East for a mini-tour early next month.[LNB] Wanted man: Fabregas would team up with Xavi if he heads to the Nou Camp[LNB][LNB]Rosell is said to share a good relationship with Gazidis fromtheir shared time in sports marketing, but Wenger has already made his position clear.[LNB]Following the 4-0 win against Barnet on Saturday, Wenger said: ' It is very important we give the impression that just because somebody wants a player from us, we do not just give in.[LNB]'We have shown our love and care for Cesc since the start. I believe Cesc loves the club, has shown his attachment to the club many times and I am very confident the story will end there.[LNB]'We want Cesc to be part of our club next year, and that is it.'[LNB]Fabregas is currently on holiday with a number of friends - including Barcelona defender Gerard Pique - on the Spanish island of Formentera.[LNB] Barcelona tell Arsenal: £40m for Cesc Fabregas, and that's our final offer!Wenger slams foreigner cap ruling and says England team is not his concernI wouldn't blame Cesc for leaving Arsenal, claims Thierry HenryWenger blames illness for Arsenal keeper Almunia missing first friendlyARSENAL FC
