Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger: Barcelona have not shown an interest in Cesc Fabregas this year

Arsene Wenger & Cesc Fabregas, Arsenal

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Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger has revealed Barcelona have yet to renew their interest in midfielder Cesc Fabregas.

The Catalan giants failed in a bid to bring the 24-year-old back to his homeland last summer, but are widely expected to test the Gunners’ resolve to keep their captain again in the coming weeks.

But Wenger insists he has not been contacted by Barcelona regarding Fabregas, and says he wants the Spaniard to stay in north London.

“There was an interest from Barcelona last year which I won’t hide,” the Frenchman told reporters.

“This year there hasn’t been an interest. My No.1 wish is to keep Fabregas – for me he is the best midfielder in the world and we naturally built the team around him.”

Wenger also revealed he will go on a scouting mission to South America as he targets several new signings this summer in a bid to end Arsenal’s six year trophy drought next season, saying: “I’m going to supervise players in South America then I am coming back.”

The Gunners have been criticised in many quarters for lacking leadership in defence this season. Wenger confirmed he is looking to address the issue in the summer, with Bolton defender Gary Cahill and Blackburn’s Christopher Samba rumoured to be potential targets.

He added: “Yes, because we beat Man United, Chelsea – but we dropped points when the game became typically English. You put a high ball up and get stuck in. It’s at that point where we lost points.”

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