Gunners secure new Fabregas deal

Arsenal have moved quickly to secure the long-term future of teenager Cesc Fabregas as part of a three-pronged approach to cope with the departure of Patrick Vieira to AC Milan.

The Gunners have offered the 18-year-old central midfielder a new six-year contract to keep him in North London until 2011 with a significant pay rise to underline his increasing value to the club.

Fabregas’ agent, Joseba Diaz, claimed that the deal illustrated the high regard in which Arsene Wenger holds the Spaniard, who scored his side’s only goal in the 2-1 Community Shield defeat to Chelsea last Sunday.

“With this gesture, Arsenal have wanted to reward the great work of Cesc, who, at only 18 years old, is a player consolidated in the Premiership and is very appreciated by his club,” Diaz told La Voz de Galicia.

Fabregas’ first-team involvement is expected to increase this season in the wake of Vieira’s departure, with Arsenal also poised to offer a new deal to his intended central midfield partner, Gilberto Silva.

Gilberto’s current deal runs out at the end of this season, but the Brazilian international has already indicated his willingness to sign a new contract.

While Vieira has still not been directly replaced, Arsenal also appear poised to complete the loan signing of Cameroon midfielder Alex Song, who has been on trial at the club for the past couple of weeks.

Song, an 18-year-old who can play in defence or midfield, was in London with Bastia directors, who were expecting a loan deal to be concluded with a view to a possible long-term signing.

Bastia spokesman Pierre Carlotti told PA Sport: “He [Song] is in London with the directors and he is in the process of sealing the deal. It will be a loan deal with an option to buy.”

Song is predominantly a future prospect, with Wenger also able to turn to Mathieu Flamini as another potential central midfielder as he considers his options ahead of Sunday’s opening Premiership tie against Newcastle.

Fabregas and Gilberto Silva appear favourites to start in central midfield, however, with the young Spaniard believing that he can cope with an increased workload during this season.

Last season, Wenger restricted his appearances to ensure that he did not suffer from burn-out, but Fabregas has matured physically and mentally after his first full Premiership campaign.

“I think that I could play every game – of course, I think that I can and I will try to – but it’s the boss’ decision,” he said.

Fabregas, who returned slightly later to pre-season training than many of his team-mates due to his involvement in youth internationals with Spain, does not believe that the club’s Community Shield defeat will affect their morale.

“It was just a pre-season game. In fact, for me and several other players, it was only our second pre-season game,” he said.

“Of course, we wanted to win it but the most important thing is the league and we will try to forget this game and focus on our first league game against Newcastle. We are winners and we will do that.”