Gunners have first option on Spaniard.
Cesc Fabregas will seek a return to the Premier League this summer if he is sold by Barcelona, with Arsenal leading the chase to re-sign the playmaker, reports the Daily Star.
The tabloid claim that sources in Spain have confirmed Arsenal have first option to buy Fabregas, who they sold to Barcelona for £35m in summer 2011.
Fabregas has enjoyed a decent season for the Catalan giants, scoring ten goals and adding a further ten assists, but has only completed 90 minutes under head-coach Tito Vilanova on 14 occasions this term.
The 26-year-old was left out of the 4-0 Champions League semi-final first leg defeat to Bayern Munich and had a poor game as the La Liga club were swept aside in the second leg, eventually falling to a 7-0 aggregate defeat to the Germans.
The Spain international is one of several players in the Barca squad deemed surplus to requirements, with president Sandro Rossell recenty admitting that changes needed to be made following the humiliation in Europe.
“We need changes in our squad but those will not come until the end of the season,” said Rossell.
Fabregas’ family are still located in London, while the Gunners are stilled owed some transfer fee by Barca, both of which could smooth over the completion of his return.
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