Fabregas wants Barca deal soon

Cesc Fabregas wants his requested transfer to Barcelona to be agreed as soon as possible but is expecting the negotiations to be arduous, according to the Arsenal captain's father.

"He (Cesc) is focussed now on the Spanish national team but what he wants is for the transfer to be concluded as soon as possible," Francesc Fabregas said on Spanish radio.

"The negotiations between Arsenal and Barcelona will be very long and both parties are going to have to sit down together a few times because the issue is a complicated one," he added.

"I don't know how this is going to pan out but I believe you have to respect the decision and the wishes of the player."

Spanish media have reported that Barca want to conclude the purchase of the 23-year-old Spain midfielder before the World Cup in South Africa, which starts on June 11.

Joan Oliver, director general of the La Liga champions, said late on Monday Barca had not yet made an offer and they were in no hurry to conclude the deal.

"There is no offer yet," Oliver was quoted as saying on Barca's website (www.fcbarcelona.com).

"It's true the player has expressed his wish to play for Barca, perhaps this coming season," he added.

"We have had first contacts with Arsenal in which we made known our intention to talk and that's the current situation.

"We are not in any hurry and you never know how long these operations can take."

Francesc Fabregas told Spanish radio his son had always done what was asked of him by Arsenal coach Arsene Wenger and he expected the Frenchman would agree to sell the player.

"We are also grateful to Arsenal because they have turned our son into a complete man," he said.

"At the moment he has a contract with Arsenal," he added. "My impression is that the English club don't want to sell him but in the end they will give in and let Cesc go."

Arsenal demand 80 million pounds for Fabregas

Arsenal has put an astronomical price tag of 80 million pounds for skipper Cesc Fabregas.

The Gunners will not consider selling their midfield ace to Barcelona until after the World Cup, even though he has already told manager Arsene Wenger that he wants to rejoin his old club.

Barcelona was hoping for a 30 million pounds deal allowing the Spanish international to concentrate on the World Cup, but Arsenal have made it clear they will not reduce Fabregas' price.

"This could go all the way to August 31 and it won't help anyone. The 'will he, won't he' situation could be similar to the one we had with Patrick Vieira almost every summer until he went to Juventus," The Sun quoted a top Arsenal source, as saying.

"But of course the consequences of a late deal could be serious, particularly for Arsenal. Their planning for the season will be compromised since there will not be time to find and, more importantly, bed in a replacement," the source said.

Arsenal thinks if the player has a good World Cup his value will rocket.