Source: Daily_Mail
Cesc Fabregas is still Barca's No 1 target - even if the Arsenal captain plays against Celtic
Pep Guardiola has told his Barcelona bosses to sign Cesc Fabregas - even if Arsenal cup-tie their skipper by playing him in the Champions League play-off against Celtic.
Barca are pushing on with a move for cover a right-back, with Emmanuel Eboue their favoured candidate, but the Nou Camp boss has reportedly insisted he would rather hold out for big names.
Liverpool's Albert Riera was highlighted as a potential recruit, but Guardiola still has only two names in mind: Fabregas and Shakhtar Donetsk defender Dmytro Chygrynskiy, who is already cup-tied from the Champions League.
Guardiola has told fans it will be difficult to sign Fabregas this summer, but will insist on stepping up a move if Arsenal stumble in the Champions League and is even prepared to wait until January.
Arsene Wenger is unwilling to sell now and the 6-1 opening day defeat of Everton has strengthened his hand.
But Barca hope for a Gunners downturn come the opening of winter window, when recruitment will be even more pressing ahead of the
Africa Cup of Nations in January.
The European champions are likely to lose midfielders Seydou Keita and Yaya Toure for up to a month for the tournament.
Eboue's likely involvement in Angola does not seem to have ruled out his signing.
The Arsenal right-back leads a short list of targets drawn up by Barca technical secretary Txiki Begiristain and director of football Raul Sanllehi, according to newspaper Sport.
Guardiola has been given videos of candidates, with Newcastle's Jonas Gutierrez the most surprising inclusion among the candidates.
Despite not being a natural right-back, the Barca technical department see him as the potential to be an attacking full-back in the mould of Dani Alves.
Shakhtar's Darijo Srna, Schalke's Rafinha, Roma's Cicinho and Juventus's Zdenek Grygera are the other candidates.
But Guardiola has his sights set elsewhere and Barca president Joan Laporta has personally intervened to try to push through a move for Shakhtar defender Chyrgrynskiy, while Begiristain takes charge of the Fabregas deal.
