Arsenal Transfer: Top 10 Possible Replacements if Fabregas Goes to Barcelona

Unless you have been living under a rock for more than a year, you are certainly aware of the transfer rumors linking Cesc Fabregas with a move back to boyhood club, Barcelona.

Arsenal signed Fabregas as a 16 year old from Barcelona. In the last two years, Barcelona have made several attempts to sign Cesc Fabregas from Arsenal. Even Fabregas has shown interest in moving to Barcelona, after all it’s his boyhood club and he has several of his friends over there.

But Arsenal did not budge and they refused to sell their talisman and captain. Barcelona had two of their bids rejected.

Under Arsene Wenger Fabregas has blossomed into one of the world’s finest midfielders and has bagfuls of quality.

This year too it looks like the “Fabregas to Barcelona” saga looks all set to continue. Here is a look at ten potential replacements if Arsenal’s midfield maestro does leave.

Keisuke Honda

Epsilon/Getty Images

KHIMKI, RUSSIA - DECEMBER 02: (EMBARGOED FOR PUBLICATION IN ALL JAPANESE MEDIA UNTIL 48 HOURS AFTER CREATE DATE AND TIME) Keisuke Honda of CSKA Moscow is seen during the UEFA Europa League match between PFC CSKA Moscow and FC Lausanne-Sport at the Khimki

 One year ago, few people would have heard of Keisuke Honda, but a following a exciting FIFA World Cup, a solid UEFA Champions League run and consistent performances in the Russian League, Honda is finally receiving some well deserved plaudits.

Keisuke Honda is noted for his fierce free kick. He is an extremely versatile player who can play in a number of positions across the football pitch. He can play in an attacking role with great success as shown in the World Cup. He was instrumental in Japan’s run to the Round of 16.

His movement is good, he can create chances and has great vision as well. He is a consistent performer and is a solid player.

Honda’s recent good form has resulted in several teams vying for his signature. He would be fairly expensive especially when looking at Wenger’s stringent dealings in the transfer market. But if Fabregas is sold it would generate some funds which could enable this transfer to go through.

Mikel Arteta

During the summer of 2010, when the transfer of Fabregas to Barcelona looked highly likely, fellow Spaniard Mikel Arteta was heavily linked to Arsenal.

Arteta has been one of the Premier League’s most underrated players. He has been extremely vital to Everton’s fortunes and has put in some great match winning performances for the Merseyside club. He provides the crucial link between midfield and defense for Everton.

He has expressed his desire to play in a more attacking role and a transfer to Arsenal would provide him with the perfect opportunity to play further up field. He has shown that he is an extremely creative player and can lead the team. Added to that he is the vice-captain of Everton meaning that he has the leadership skills.

Considering Everton’s financial crisis they will be willing to sell their key playmaker if Arsenal make a reasonable bid for him.

But question marks still remain of whether he has the quality to make it big in a top club like Arsenal.

Borja Valero

Phil Cole/Getty Images

LONDON, ENGLAND - JULY 29: Borja Valero of Villarreal during a Pre-Season Friendly between Tottenham Hotspur and Villarreal at White Hart Lane on July 29, 2010 in London, England. (Photo by Phil Cole/Getty Images)

Borja Valero’s age means that he may not have all the characteristics of a Wenger signing but he does have all the qualities Wenger looks at in a player. In his short stint at Villarreal he has shown plenty of vision and creativity. He has created several chances for his teammates and has a eye for picking out defense splitting passes.

He is an extremely talented central midfielder with great creativity. He is experienced at the top level and was highly instrumental in Mallorca’s fifth place finish last season. His recent exploits with Villarreal has resulted in talks about him moving to Barcelona.

But Arsenal offers him a chance to play top level football and a chance to play regular first team football. He is an heavily talented player with lots of experience which may prove to be vital for the club’s youngsters.

But the fact that he is already 26 makes it unlikely for Wenger to sign him. But signing him maybe a good decision as it gives the likes of Ramsey to mature and fill in Fabregas’s space.

Yoann Gourcuff

Yoann Gourcuff was another player heavily linked to Arsenal during the summer but finally he ended up moving to Lyon instead.

Gourcuff would be the ideal signing for Arsenal: he is young, experienced and is immensely talented and creative in the centre of the pitch. Gourcuff has played close to 250 games at the top level and has scored 35 goals along the way. He has also made 26 starts for France.

He has been an extremely consistent performer at the club level and won the French Ligue 1 Player of the Season in 2009. He is gifted with great vision and is an extremely gifted playmaker.

Also he has a great partnership with Marouane Chamakh from their time together and could bring out the best in the Moroccan.

He would be a great addition to the squad and he does possess enough quality to successfully replace Cesc Fabregas at Arsenal.

But the fact that he only signed for Lyon last summer may make the deal a bit unlikely. 

Jordan Henderson

Alex Livesey/Getty Images

BLACKPOOL, ENGLAND - JANUARY 22: Jordan Henderson of Sunderland during the Barclays Premier League match between Blackpool and Sunderland at Bloomfield Road on January 22, 2011 in Blackpool, England. (Photo by Alex Livesey/Getty Images)

 Jordan Henderson has all the attributes of a Wenger signing. He is young, immensely talented and has bags of potential. He has been brilliant for Sunderland this season and even Sunderland manager Steve Bruce has stated that it would be difficult to hold onto this exceptional talent.

His superb performances earned him an England call up. Henderson helped Sunderland go unbeaten against the likes of Chelsea, Manchester City and Manchester United and several of these clubs have shown interest in signing this young player.

He is highly rated by FIFA who describe him as “composed, athletic and powerful”. Henderson is young and Wenger is known for grooming young talent, so Henderson could be a great buy on the long run for the Gunners.

But the fee would post a stumbling block as he is bound to be expensive. Also he is fairly inexperienced at the top level having spent just a couple of seasons at the top and has not tasted Champions League football yet.

Marek Hamsik

Giuseppe Bellini/Getty Images

NAPLES, ITALY - FEBRUARY 20: Marek Hamsik of Napoli in action during the Serie A match between SSC Napoli and Catania Calcio at Stadio San Paolo on February 20, 2011 in Naples, Italy. (Photo by Giuseppe Bellini/Getty Images)

Marek Hamsik has been instrumental in Napoli’s run to second in the Serie A. He has formed a great partnership with the likes of Cavani and has shown that he is an extremely able play maker.

Ever since his move to Napoli he has been extremely impressive and has shown that he has the creativity and vision to take up the central midfield mantle from Cesc Fabregas. He is also a regular goal scorer and has already scored ten goals this season. He has scored at least ten goals in each of his seasons with Napoli. He was Napoli’s top scorer in his first two seasons with the Italian club.

He is a good dribbler of the ball and can weave past defenders with ease.

He is the current captain of the Slovakian National football team and is a key member of their attack. He has plenty of experience at the top level, having played in the FIFA World Cup in 2010. He has won the best young Slovak player twice.

He will be a bit expensive but Wenger will have the funds from Fabregas’ transfer. He will be a great addition to the squad and has the quality to replace Fabregas in the heart of Arsenal’s defense.

Rafael Van Der Vaart

Mike Hewitt/Getty Images

LONDON, ENGLAND - FEBRUARY 05: Rafael van der Vaart of Tottenham Hotspur celebrates after scoring a penalty kick during the Barclays Premier League match between Tottenham Hotspur and Bolton Wanderers at White Hart Lane on February 5, 2011 in London, Eng

Now Rafael van der Vaart does play for Tottenham, but players have crossed over from Tottenham to Arsenal before. Also van der Vaart has expressed his desire to play for Arsenal before and a move to Arsenal will give him an opportunity to team up with Robin van Persie his Dutch teammate and good friend. So it is possible that van der Vaart would like to move to Arsenal.

He has shown this season that he is an extremely able midfield player and can be instrumental in his team’s success. He has created several goals for Tottenham this season and has put in several extremely impressive performances. He is blessed with great vision, creativity and has good linkup play.

He has found the net an impressive twelve times already this season. He is an experienced player who can fill the void left by Fabregas. He has played for the likes of Real Madrid and is a regular feature for the Netherlands international team.

He has the quality, experience to fill the central midfield role at Arsenal in the absence of Cesc Fabregas.

Riccardo Montolivo

Riccardo Montolivo is an extremely versatile midfield player who can play in several positions across a football pitch but is most comfortable in an attacking role. Currently playing for Fiorentina, he is an experienced player both at the domestic and international level.

He was linked with Arsenal in the summer of 2010, when Fabregas’ departure looked imminent and if Fabregas does go, he would be a good replacement. He has a terrific first touch and is a good dribbler with the ball as well. He is quick with the ball in his feet and is a good passer of the ball.

He is blessed with great anticipation and vision and is overall a good player to have on your team.

But there are still several doubts of whether he has the quality to fill Fabregas’ role. He may be talented but whether he has the quality of Cesc Fabregas is a doubt.

Nuri Sahin

David Ramos/Getty Images

SEVILLE, SPAIN - DECEMBER 15: Nuri Sahin of Borussia Dortmund looks on prior the UEFA Europa League group J match between Sevilla and Borussia Dortmund at Estadio Ramon Sanchez Pizjuan on December 15, 2010 in Seville, Spain. The match ended 2-2. (Photo

Borussia Dortmund has dominated this season’s German Bundesliga and Nuri Sahin has been an extremely influential and important fixture in the Dortmund side. He is a player blessed with fantastic vision and has a great passing range.

He is the youngest player to play in the German Bundesliga and the youngest player to score a goal in the Bundesliga. He has superb vision, great technique and is an extremely creative player with the ball at his feet. He is experienced despite being only 22 and still has a long way to go. He is a great prospect and in a couple of year’s time he has the potential to become one of the world’s best. He also has a powerful shot. He has the quality to dictate the play from the midfield.

Sahin’s recent form has resulted in several teams vying for his signature and so Arsenal will have to overcome stiff opposition if they wish to sign him. He maybe a bit expensive but considering the potential he has, it would be a great buy for the club.

Aaron Ramsey

Aaron Ramsey is the only player on this list who already plays for Arsenal and there is no doubt that he has enough quality to become Fabregas’ heir and accomplish great things in an Arsenal jersey.

Despite his horrific injury against Stoke City last season, he seems to be fine during his loan spells at Nottingham Forest and at Cardiff City. Before his career threatening injury he showed that he has the quality to become a great player.

He has all the qualities required to fill the void left by Fabregas: he has great vision, an eye for goal and is extremely creative with the ball at his feet. Before his injury he played 29 games for Arsenal that season and scored four times and had three assists.

He is a supremely gifted player and many predict him to be the future of Arsenal’s midfield along with young Jack Wilshere. He looks to be the ideal replacement for Fabregas at Arsenal and has an extremely bright future ahead of him.

Aaron Ramsey has the potential to become better than Fabregas because he is also a good dribbler of the ball and is physically no walkover. 

Aaron Ramey will be back to full fitness by the start of next season and it looks like he will not have any long lasting effects from that injury. There is a huge possibility that Wenger will be tempted to play him and not sign any player if Fabregas departs.

Conclusions

Angel Martinez/Getty Images

MADRID, SPAIN - JULY 12: Pepe Reina and Carles Puyol of Spanish national football team put on a shirt of FC Barcelona to Cesc Fabregas during the Spanish team's victory parade following their victory over the Netherlands in the 2010 FIFA World Cup on Jul

Out of all the players on the list, some are fairly established players, some are up and coming players. Even if they are not fully established players right now, Arsene Wenger is known to bring out the best in his players.

If Fabregas does go, Arsenal will have the funds to buy players but they also have the talent and quality in their team to replace him without entering the transfer market.

We will know for sure when the Fabregas saga continues in the summer transfer window.