The Fans Football Blog3

British newspaper The Observer claims that Barcelona have placed Arsenal midfielder and Spanish international Cesc Fàbregas (21), Arsenal winger and Dutch international Robin van Persie (25) and Arsenal forward and Togo international Emmanuel Adebayor (24) on a list of planned summer transfers.

Robin van Persie would be a priority target for Barcelona. An offer of cash plus former Arsenal player Alexander Hleb (27) would have been rejected last month (read more here) because Arsenal is still angered by the manner in which the Belarus midfielder left the club last summer.

Barcelona would nevertheless believe that they can persuade Arsenal to sell Van Persie in the summer when the player enters the final twelve months of his contract. The Dutchman has less than one and a half year left on his present deal and is stalling on an extension. Van Persie is understood to be concerned about Arsenal's failure to compete for trophies in recent times.

Barcelona would meanwhile also be working on approaches for Adebayor and Cesc. Adebayor would be Guardiola's first choice as centre forward if Barcelona player Samuel Eto'o leaves in the summer, while Cesc remains a long-term target for the club. Barcelona does not consider it possible to capture all three in a single transfer window but expects Arsenal to release at least one of them to raise funds for the reconstruction of their own squad.

British tabloid News of the World also claims that Barcelona is interested Cesc, Van Persie and Adebayor and that the three players will leave if Arsenal doesn't qualify for Champions League football this season. A source close to Arsenal is quoted as saying: "There is a real problem developing because the big names are bemused at the way things are going.

If Arsenal finish outside the top four, there’s no way the likes of Van Persie, Adebayor and Fabregas will hang around. They love playing for Arsene Wenger but they also want to win things. And, as things stand, they can’t see that happening. It’s not about how much money they can earn, it’s about winning trophies for these guys. They want to see some ambition and they want to see the club buying the right kind of players."

Read more:
Bid for Cesc and Van Persie being planned
Barcelona considers buying top striker
Van Persie to replace Henry next summer