Fabregas saga nears end, says Wenger

Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger admits it will not be long before the protracted transfer of captain Cesc Fabregas to Barcelona is resolved.

After remaining steadfast in their demands over a £40m fee for their talisman midfielder, Arsenal now look set to have to accept a cut-price deal to offload the unsettled Spaniard.

The package is reported to include a down payment of €30m, with an additional €6m in performance-based add-ons, and is expected to be pushed through ahead of tomorrow afternoon’s Barclays Premier League opener at Newcastle.

“We hope it will be sorted out very quickly one way or the other. We will know very quickly,” Wenger confirmed to Arsenal Player.

Were Fabregas – who missed the Asia tour and all of pre-season because, officially at least, he was troubled by a hamstring problem – to feature in next week’s first leg of Arsenal’s Champions League play-off against Udinese, the midfielder would be ineligible for any other side later in the competition, suggesting the deal will be pushed through before then.

Fabregas joined Arsenal as a raw youngster for nothing from Barcelona in 2003, and has made more than 300 appearances, scoring 57 goals, but the World Cup winner has yet to taste club success.

Midfielder Samir Nasri, meanwhile, has yet to pen a new deal, and so could leave for nothing next summer.

Manchester City are reported to be ready to bid up to £25m for the France international.

Wenger added: “The Nasri situation is stable. Again it is very difficult to speak about possible transfers, but we are in a situation where we have to make decisions one way or the other.

“Ideally you want it to be sorted out before the season starts.” The sale of two key men on the eve of the new campaign is hardly the ideal preparation for another assault on ending Arsenal’s six-year trophy drought.

Denmark striker Nicklas Bendtner, linked with Stoke, has yet to find a new club, while utility man Emmanuel Eboue is expected to sign for Galatasaray.

However, Wenger – who has signed forwards Gervinho and Alex Chamberlain this summer – is expected to move quickly for replacements.

Valencia midfielder Juan Mata is a long-time target, while Costa Rican forward Joel Campbell is said to be close to a £1m move to the Emirates Stadium.

Defensive reinforcements are top of the agenda, with a £6m move for Birmingham’s centre-half Scott Dann said to be imminent after Arsenal failed to complete a deal for Everton’s Phil Jagielka or Gary Cahill from Bolton.

Wenger has several fitness concerns ahead of the trip to St James’ Park, where Arsenal blew a 4-0 half-time lead in February.

England duo Theo Walcott and Jack Wilshere are already doubts because of ankle injuries, along with striker Robin van Persie, who is carrying a similar problem. Wales skipper Aaron Ramsey (calf) came off against Australia as a precaution.

Wenger later revealed he was unable to predict when Wilshere would return, with the youngster requiring a protective boot to aid his recovery.

“Jack Wilshere has been put in a boot,” Wenger told arsenal.com. “He has an inflamed ankle and it is difficult to set any specific date on his return, but we hope he will be back soon.”

On another of his midfield casualties, the Gunners boss added: “Abou Diaby is slowly improving. As well, it is difficult to say when he will be back, but we know he will not play before the end of September.”