The worst-kept secret in football could unravel in the coming weeks if, as expected, Arsenal captain Cesc Fabregas completes his move back to Barcelona.

Barca have made no secret of their desire to return their former youth star to his homeland and club president Sandro Rossell told Catalan station TV3 this week that the Spain international is “doing everything he can to come”.

The north Londoners, priced at 7/1 in the Premier League outright market, are likely to take a dim view of Rossell’s assessment of their star midfielder but may now decide the time is right to cash in on a player who managed only three goals in 25 league appearances in an injury-interrupted 2010/11 season.

Fabregas has a contract at Arsenal which runs until 2015 so the club is under no pressure to sell but manager Arsene Wenger may take the view that a deal in the region of £30m would be difficult to turn down given that the emergence of Jack Wilshere and the return from injury of Aaron Ramsey leaves with him plenty of options.

If the Gunners also manage to keep hold of France international Samir Nasri then this would also represent a major shot in the arm.

For the 8/15 La Liga title favourites the signing of Fabregas is logical given that Camp Nou maestro Xavi is now the wrong side of 30 and his midfield partner in crime, Andres Iniesta, is into his peak years at the age of 27.

Pep Guardiola will be aware that good teams come in cycles and the signing of Fabregas – and coveted 22-year-old Udinese striker Alexis Sanchez – would help reduce the age of his La Liga and Champions League-winning squad.

Arsenal have been here before – think Thierry Henry and Patrick Vieira – and the potential loss of Fabregas would surely diminish their hopes of preventing a seventh season without a major piece of silverware.

It is looking increasingly likely that they will have to get over that hurdle without their captain and talisman.

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