Analysing the Transfer Gossip – July 17: Part 1

Barcelona are prepared to sell midfielder Cesc Fabregas, 26, to Manchester United but the Red Devils must break their club record transfer fee and pay £31m to make it happen.

Full story: Daily Mirror

What’s the story? This is just fantasy. Barcelona have said Fabregas doesn’t want to leave and they certainly don’t need to sell.Does it make sense? No, of course not. Barcelona paid more to get him for a start. Plus, they’ve already lost Thiago Alcantara so if they sell Fabregas too, the two players they want to succeed Xavi will have gone in one summer. Xavi is almost 34, and so he wont be playing too much longer at the elite level. Maybe a candidate to retire by hoisting another World Cup in the summer?Is the price right? No. This is Barcelona we are talking about here; they don’t really do haggling. It’s less than what they paid for him and not enough to buy a quality replacement.Will it happen? 3/10 – Barcelona can make the odd bizarre decision, but even if they did for some reason want to sell Fabregas, Arsenal have first rights to negotiate with him and their fans would riot if they didn’t take that up.