Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger has revealed Cesc Fabregas will miss this weekend’s Emirates Cup because he has been “unsettled” by continued speculation about a potential move to Barcelona. Fabregas has been keen to join Barca for over a year but the European champions have so far failed to meet Arsenal’s £40 million ($65.8 million) valuation of the Spanish midfielder.
It is thought Arsenal rejected Barca’s latest offer of around £30 million earlier in the close-season and there has been no progress in talks between the clubs. Wenger wants to keep his captain but he admits the saga has taken a toll on Fabregas, who has not featured in any of Arsenal’s pre-season games as he makes a slow comeback from a recurring hamstring injury.