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Arsenal midfielder Cesc Fabregas could be about to get his dream move to Barcelona as Arsenal look to re-sign a former Gunners star.
Alexander Hleb has been something of a flop since he joined the Catalan side in July 2008 after three impressive seasons at Arsenal. Although Fulham and Tottenham seem to be in a tug of war over the Belarusian, Hleb himself has stated his love for Arsenal: |
| Alexander Hleb: Unhappy at Barca |
"when you mostly sit on the bench, winning titles brings very little joy, while getting to the last eight of the Champions League with Arsenal was unforgettable"
With Fabregas seemingly looking for a way out of the London club a swap deal could be perfect for all parties. Hleb wants to leave Barca after being forced to go on loan to Stuttgart last season and, with Andres Iniesta, Xavi, Sergio Busquets, Seydou Keita, and possibly Fabregas, all fighting for a place in midfield, Hleb may need to look elsewhere for first team football.
The 29-year-old was supposed to join Stuttgart on loan for another season but the deal with the German side fell through, leaving the path clear for a return to the Premier League. New Fulham boss Mark Hughes has expressed an interest in the player, as has Harry Redknapp at Tottenham. However, it is though that the midfielder would prefer a return to Arsenal.
Although the Fabregas saga seems to have stalled somewhat in the last few weeks, the deal is far from over. The only sticking point is that Barca won’t pay Arsenal’s estimated price for the Spanish midfielder. However, if Hleb were used in the deal, as well as money, the transfer could be completed.
Former Joan Gaspart has claimed recently that Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger wanted to join them in 2001 but was forced to stay with the club as the then-chairman forced him to fulfil his contract:
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| Fabregas gets a Barcelona shirt forced onto him by his Spanish teammates |
The current dealings of Barcelona have been viewed by many in the last few weeks as slightly dodgy, only just short of tapping up players. This isn’t the first time that the two clubs have conducted deals between one another, with Thierry Henry the best example. The Frenchman left Arsenal in 2007 to join Barca for a fee of around €24 million. Fabregas came up through the Barca youth system but was taken by Arsenal at the age of 16. The fact that Barca is his home club is a major reason for why the star wants a move back there. Current Barcelona manager Pep Guardiola is also a boyhood hero for Fabregas.
If all goes to plan, Fabregas could get his dream move. Hleb is valued at around €4 million and, although Aston Villa, Sunderland and West Ham are reportedly interested in the player, Wenger will be looking to find some form of replacement for Fabregas. If Hleb can re-create the form he produced in his first stint for Arsenal, the manager may well have gone some way to replacing the midfielder.
