Reports on Friday morning claim that Arsenal have rejected a £27million bid for Cesc Fabregas from Barcelona.
The European and Spanish champions are continuing their pursuit of the Arsenal captain, with the player widely expected to finally make his return to his boyhood idols from England before the summer is out.
The World Cup winning midfielder has refused to come out and ask for a transfer and his club are looking to hold out for a fee of £50 million, sa figure Barca will not go to.
The Camp Nou outfit had previously been reported to be set to go no higher than £35m for Fabregas – which they offered last summer - though they are now not even willing to offer that much as they believe the player’s repeated hamstring problems have lowered his valuation.
Their current reported bid is some way short, with the Daily Mail reporting that Arsenal chief-executive Ivan Gazidis flatly rebuffed the opening offer of £27m made last week by Barca vice-president Josep Maria Bartomeu.
Barca president Sandro Rossell this week told Catalan TV that Fabregas ‘is doing everything he can to come (here).
“If last year we offered 40m euros (£35.5m), it is clear that this year his value is less. Since then there has been wear and tear and he is worth less.
"(Barca boss Pep) Guardiola knows the values of players and Cesc's is less than 40million (euros). Barcelona will offer less and if they (Arsenal) don't accept, then he won't come. Pep knows the club is not well-off in terms of money.”
Fabregas is currently contractually tied to the Emirates Stadium until 2015.