Arsenal and Barcelona are poised for further talks in the next week to negotiate the transfer of Cesc Fabregas after a meeting in London failed to bring any resolution to the long-running saga.
The European champions did not make a formal offer for the Spaniard before Barca vice-president Josep Maria Bartomeu left the UK on Thursday.
Arsenal chief executive Ivan Gazidis told his Catalan counterpart that the Londoners are refusing to budge on their £40 million-plus valuation of Fabregas.
Barcelona have made two bids for the midfielder this summer but are still a long way short of the Premier League club’s asking price. They favour a package that includes performance-related add-ons but Arsenal only want straight cash for a player with four years remaining
on his contract.
Barcelona are aware that even a £35m bid – which would top what they have offered up until now – would be rejected by the Londoners.
Fabregas has been left in limbo as he waits for his future to be resolved. The midfielder is not expected to be in the Arsenal squad that leaves Luton airport at lunchtime today for a training camp in Germany.
The club captain has been undergoing a rehabiliation programme at the Gunners’ London Colney training base as he continues his recovery from the hamstring injury that curtailed his involvement for much of last season.
Fabregas missed the tour of the Far East and his absence from the five-day trip to Germany, which includes a friendly against Cologne on Saturday, will do little to appease those who are doubting his long-term commitment to his current employers.
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Arsenal and Barcelona to resume talks over Cesc Fabregas transfer next week as Gunners hold out for £40m fee