Arsene Wenger and Arsenal Rebuff Barcelona Offers for Cesc Fabregas Once Again

Barcelona continue their pursuit of Arsenal's want-away captain Cesc Fabregas. The Gunners leader has made no secret of his desire to return to his boyhood club, and the reports continue to surface as always this summer that he will be returning home.

It has turned into the summer transfer saga of the last several seasons for Fabregas, Barcelona and Arsenal. Arsene Wenger desperately continues to hold on to one of his prized midfielders and has indeed rejected the Catalan giant's first formal offer of £31 million, according to a report in the Daily Mirror published late Thursday June 23, 2011.

The same Mirror article suggests that unless Wenger is offered at least £45 million he will not even consider the sale of Fabregas. At this rate, I feel if the Frenchman can get to his asking price then he should take it.

It would allow him more room to negotiate the stay of Samir Nasri as he seems a bit unsettled at times. Fabregas's sale would also allow youngsters Jack Wilshire and Aaron Ramsey the additional playing time they deserve and I believe they are more motivated and will produce more going forward from this point, are are still in a lower cost and wage bracket than the Spanish International.

The Daily Telegraph reported that the same bid in the Mirror piece was actually only for £27 million, leaving them about £18 million short of the Gunners asking price.

It remains to be seen what will happen, but it there was a summer that Wenger should cash in, this is it with his young Gunners Wilshire and Ramsey finally fully charged, motivated and experienced enough to take the full spot light at the Emirates.