Arsenal are a 6/1 chance to win the Premier League title – but they will have to do it without Cesc Fabregas, according to outgoing Barcelona president Juan Laporta.
The Gunners are hanging on to the Spain midfielder with their fingernails as Barca step up their pursuit of the player and Laporta says it is only a matter of time before they land their man.
The words of Laporta are sure to infuriate Gunners officials but you cannot help but agree with him because Fabregas has made his mind up that he wants to return to his former club and player power usually wins day.
No matter how hard Arsenal fight to keep hold if Fabregas sticks by his guns and asks to leave a deal is more than likely to go through if the price is right.
Agreeing a fee could be easier said than done. Barca are already thought to have failed with one bid in the region of £29million and Arsenal will probably want closer to double that if they are to sell.
They will say Cristiano Ronaldo went to Real Madrid for £80million last summer and Fabregas is worth £60million, but Barca will argue they are completely different players and are unlikely to go that high.
Fabregas has always maintained how happy he is at the Emirates Stadium and it is hard to see him kicking up a fuss but if Arsenal block the move over the fee they could have an unhappy player on their hands which will no good to anybody.
Either way Laporta says it is only a matter of time before they land their man and believes it will happen this summer, eventually.
“Arsenal will end up giving in, but I don’t know when that will be. We will have to wait and let the professionals who are taking care of it do their work,” he revealed.
Laporta is set to leave office at the end of the month but if he cannot wrap up a deal in that time, he believes his replacement Sandro Rosell will.
“If it’s not us, it will be up to the new board, if they consider if appropriate, to carry on along this road,” he added.
Arsenal now have some tough decisions to make but nothing will be sorted until after the World Cup. However the time Fabregas is spending with Spain will not help matters as the Barcelona players will no doubt be in his ear everyday urging him to return to the Nou Camp and that looks the most likely outcome.
Bet on the World Cup and get £200. Click here to visit Bet365 and claim your free money.