Manchester United are understood to have made a £26million offer for Barcelona midfielder Cesc Fabregas.
The move comes after Thiago Alcantara rejected approaches from United and decided to join German champions Bayern Munich.
United have acted swiftly following that rejection and have now targeted Fabregas as their first major signing.
It is widely reported that the former Arsenal captain is unsettled by the lack of first-team opportunities at the Camp Nou.
However, Fabregas appeared as a starter for Barcelona 38 times last season as well as making a number of substitute appearances.
When asked about a potential move away from Barcelona earlier this summer, Fabregas said: “I’ve always said that I’m happy at Barca. Whoever says that I’m leaving doesn’t know me and has never spoken with me.
“Nor with my agent, because he knows that I don’t want him to talk with other people about me.
“I’m very private and I don’t even talk about these things with my family. If someone says anything that isn’t that I want to play at Barca, It’s completely absurd.”
Resistance from Fabregas is not the only obstacle that United have to consider.
Arsenal have a ‘first-option’ buy back clause on the player and would most likely attempt to hijack any advances by United towards the player.
Picture courtesy of theSportReview.com, with thanks.
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