Wenger insists Fabregas won’t move this year
ARSENAL boss Arsene Wenger revealed last night that Manchester United’s bid to sign former Gunner Cesc Fabregas is doomed to failure, insisting that the star midfielder will stay at Barcelona for the coming season.
The north Londoners have a buy-back option on Fabregas, who left for the Camp Nou two years ago and has been the subject of bids from United in recent weeks.
Yet Wenger believes neither team will lure the playmaker back to England this summer, and admits that Arsenal may go into the last 10 days of the transfer window without adding any more signings.
“What I know is that Fabregas will stay one more year at least in Barcelona, that’s the information I have,” said Wenger, speaking after his side’s 2-1 home defeat to Turkish champions Galatasaray.
“If that changes, I don’t know. But that’s [what] I’ve been told.”
And the Arsenal manager, who has only secured the signing of 20-year-old French striker Yaya Sanogo so far this summer, does not appear to be confident of bringing in more reinforcements in the coming days.
“Let’s count first on what is here, and if we can add something we will do. But it’s very difficult to predict that will all be sorted out before we play in the Champions League qualifier [on 20 or 21 August],” Wenger said.
“I think we have enough quality to achieve [Champions League group stage qualification] with the players we have at the moment. If we can have some more in before that, it’s even better.”
While the Gunners have not managed to secure many early signings, the club’s wage bill has been significantly reduced by the departure of unwanted players.
Andrey Arshavin, Denilson, Andre Santos and Sebastien Squillaci have all been moved on, while Wenger expects Gervinho and Marouane Chamakh to switch to new teams this week.
“Gervinho is on a good way to Roma, and Chamakh on a good way to Crystal Palace,” he said.
Ivory Coast international Gervinho arrived in the Italian capital yesterday, where he is expected to seal a £7m move. He lasted just two seasons at Arsenal, having signed from Lille in 2011.