If at first you don’t succeed, try try and try again. That is the motto that could be applied to Barcelona’s pursuit of Cesc Fabregas and the Catalan club are now getting close to securing the signature of the midfielder.

Barca were rebuffed in the summers of 2009 and 2010 after lodging bids for a player who started out his career at the Nou Camp, although it appears that Arsene Wenger is resigned to losing his captain and it is also thought that a £35 million bid will be enough to secure the transfer.

Barcelona offered €40 million last year for the signature of Fabregas, although they have so far lodged an unsuccessful offer of €30 million for the Spaniard and will need to increase this to secure the signature of a midfielder with many great years ahead of him.

It would represent a big blow to Arsenal, who have failed to win any silverware for the past six seasons and Wenger also faces a struggle to retain the services of Samir Nasri who has been linked with a move to Manchester United.