Wenger hoping to hang on to Fab

ARSENE WENGER will hope Cesc Fabregas’ integral role at the heartbeat of the Arsenal side is enough to persuade the midfielder to remain at Emirates Stadium for at least another season.

The Spain international, 23, has told Wenger he wants to move back to boyhood club Barcelona, in the belief all of his ambitions can be fulfilled at the Nou Camp rather than in north London.

While welcoming the news their prodigal son, who left for Highbury when aged 16 in 2003, would like to return, Barcelona accept the Gunners must have the final say on whether any potential deal can be brokered.

Wenger is set for more talks with the midfielder, who was briefly back in London on Tuesday as part of his rehabilitation from a cracked fibula ahead of the World Cup.

Arsenal’s tactics to convince Fabregas to stay on for at least one more campaign look to be two fold. Wenger is keen to bolster his squad over the summer, with the arrival of Morocco striker Marouane Chamakh set to shortly be confirmed ahead of further additions expected before the start of the new campaign which will give the Gunners the extra depth needed to last the distance.

Moreover is the case for Fabregas’ integral role at the heartbeat of the team – something which would not be guaranteed at Camp Nou.

Barcelona coach Pep Guardiola deploys a 4-3-3 formation, and as such the midfielder would be competing with the likes of Xavi, Andres Iniesta and Sergio Busquets for a regular place in the starting XI.

Predictably, Barcelona, who believe they can conclude a deal to sign Fabregas before the weekend, have welcomed the midfielder’s desire to return to the club, where he played in the youth ranks before joining Arsenal in 2003.

Sporting director Txiki Begiristain said: “It’s great news that he wants to come here and I think that one day Cesc will have to come to Barca.

“But what matters is Arsenal and what their decision is. They think he is a very important player for them.

“We have to respect that.’’

Were Arsenal to regretfully allow Fabregas to leave, the Gunners would expect a fee in the region of £40 million (€46.5m) – although with just one club in the market, Barcelona could not be held to ransom.

Reports have suggested both Yaya Toure and Zlatan Ibrahimovic could be offered as makeweights in any deal. However according to his agent Toure has no interest in the move.

Dimitri Selcuk said: “Toure is not going to replace Cesc. He will not play for Arsenal.’’

Wenger, though, will have plenty of other options in mind as he looks to fill a void at the heart of the side.

Mikel Arteta’s agent maintains the midfielder is happy at Everton, but has long been on Wenger’s radar, as has Juventus midfielder Felipe Melo.