Arsenal are said to be ready to negotiate Cesc Fabregas's transfer to Barcelona if the two clubs can agree a fee, it could aid the Gunners' own player recruitment drive.
Arsenal are said to be ready to negotiate Cesc Fabregas's transfer to Barcelona if the two clubs can agree a fee, it could aid the Gunners' own player recruitment drive.
Arsenal are said to be ready to negotiate Cesc Fabregas's transfer to Barcelona if the two clubs can agree a fee, it could aid the Gunners' own player recruitment drive.
Arsenal are said to be ready to negotiate Cesc Fabregas's transfer to Barcelona if the two clubs can agree a fee, it could aid the Gunners' own player recruitment drive.

Fabregas may get his Barcelona wish if Arsenal get right price


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Arsenal would be willing to sell Cesc Fabregas to Barcelona if the two clubs can agree a fee, according to the BBC.

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The 24-year-old World Cup winner is continually linked with a move back to his boyhood club during every transfer window.

Last summer, the Gunners rejected a reported £30 million (Dh176.1m) offer for their inspirational captain.

However, with Fabregas appearing more determined to rejoin the club he left as a teenager in 2003, Arsenal are said to be ready to allow the deal to go through, if Barcelona improve their latest £27m bid.

BBC Sport quote a senior Arsenal official as saying: "The offer was made formally in writing to our chief executive [Ivan Gazidis], and we said no straight away."

When asked if the club expected an improved offer this week, the source added: "Possibly yes, and if it's enough then I expect we'll have to sell."

Last week, Sandro Rosell, the Barcelona president claimed the European champions would not break the bank for Fabregas, of whom he said: "it is clear that this year his value is less."

During the 2010 summer transfer window, Arsenal released a statement confirming Fabregas was not for sale. However, so far, there has been no official comment from the Premier League club following renewed speculation over his future.

The sale of Fabregas would allow Arsenal to press ahead with a summer recruitment spree.

The London club been linked with Gervinho, the Ivory Coast forward, but have yet to make an offer, according to Michel Seydoux, the Lille president.

The 24 year old, who won a domestic double with Lille last season, has made no secret the Gunners would be his preferred destination were the French club ready to sell.

Seydoux told Radio Monte Carlo: "We know that Gervinho is keen on Arsenal. For the moment, there has been simple contact, but we have not received a concrete offer yet."

Arsenal have also been linked with Lille's Belgian starlet Eden Hazard, but Seydoux maintained the 20-year-old midfielder would remain at their club.

It has so far been something of a slow transfer window for the Gunners, with Carl Jenkinson so far the only confirmed addition in a £1m deal to take the young defender from Charlton Athletic.

Arsene Wenger, the Arsenal manager, is under pressure to bolster his squad to help end a six-season trophy drought.

The addition of Southampton's 17-year-old forward Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain is expected to be confirmed at the start of July ahead of Arsenal's Far East tour.

However, the quest for more experienced cover, particularly in defence, continues to prove a source of frustration.

Having sold Phil Jones to Manchester United for £16.5m, Blackburn Rovers are now in a position to hold out for an increased fee for Christopher Samba, his fellow central defender.

Spain's Under 21 midfielder Juan Mata is another reported target, rated at around £18m by Valencia, while the Gunners are also said to be tracking the Argentine youngster Ricky Alvarez.

Wenger is also waiting on Samir Nasri and Gael Clichy to sign new contracts.

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if you go

The flights

Air Astana flies direct from Dubai to Almaty from Dh2,440 per person return, and to Astana (via Almaty) from Dh2,930 return, both including taxes. 

The hotels

Rooms at the Ritz-Carlton Almaty cost from Dh1,944 per night including taxes; and in Astana the new Ritz-Carlton Astana (www.marriott) costs from Dh1,325; alternatively, the new St Regis Astana costs from Dh1,458 per night including taxes. 

When to visit

March-May and September-November

Visas

Citizens of many countries, including the UAE do not need a visa to enter Kazakhstan for up to 30 days. Contact the nearest Kazakhstan embassy or consulate.

ASHES FIXTURES

1st Test: Brisbane, Nov 23-27 
2nd Test: Adelaide, Dec 2-6
3rd Test: Perth, Dec 14-18
4th Test: Melbourne, Dec 26-30
5th Test: Sydney, Jan 4-8

Ferrari 12Cilindri specs

Engine: naturally aspirated 6.5-liter V12

Power: 819hp

Torque: 678Nm at 7,250rpm

Price: From Dh1,700,000

Available: Now

The President's Cake

Director: Hasan Hadi

Starring: Baneen Ahmad Nayyef, Waheed Thabet Khreibat, Sajad Mohamad Qasem 

Rating: 4/5

THE BIO

Ms Davison came to Dubai from Kerala after her marriage in 1996 when she was 21-years-old

Since 2001, Ms Davison has worked at many affordable schools such as Our Own English High School in Sharjah, and The Apple International School and Amled School in Dubai

Favourite Book: The Alchemist

Favourite quote: Failing to prepare is preparing to fail

Favourite place to Travel to: Vienna

Favourite cuisine: Italian food

Favourite Movie : Scent of a Woman

 

 

WHAT IS A BLACK HOLE?

1. Black holes are objects whose gravity is so strong not even light can escape their pull

2. They can be created when massive stars collapse under their own weight

3. Large black holes can also be formed when smaller ones collide and merge

4. The biggest black holes lurk at the centre of many galaxies, including our own

5. Astronomers believe that when the universe was very young, black holes affected how galaxies formed

Our legal consultant

Name: Hassan Mohsen Elhais

Position: legal consultant with Al Rowaad Advocates and Legal Consultants.

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From 5.30pm in the following order:

Featherweight

Marcelo Pontes (BRA) v Azouz Anwar (EGY)

Catchweight 90kg

Moustafa Rashid Nada (KSA) v Imad Al Howayeck (LEB)

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Mohammed Al Khatib (JOR) v Gimbat Ismailov (RUS)

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Lucie Bertaud (FRA) v Kelig Pinson (BEL)

Lightweight

Alexandru Chitoran (BEL) v Regelo Enumerables Jr (PHI)

Catchweight 100kg

Mohamed Ali (EGY) v Marc Vleiger (NED)

Featherweight

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Welterweight

Gerson Carvalho (BRA) v Abdelghani Saber (EGY)

Middleweight 

Bakhtiyar Abbasov (AZE) v Igor Litoshik (BLR)

Bantamweight:

Fabio Mello (BRA) v Mark Alcoba (PHI)

Welterweight

Ahmed Labban (LEB) v Magomedsultan Magemedsultanov (RUS)

Bantamweight

Trent Girdham (AUS) v Jayson Margallo (PHI)

Lightweight

Usman Nurmagomedov (RUS) v Roman Golovinov (UKR)

Middleweight

Tarek Suleiman (SYR) v Steve Kennedy (AUS)

Lightweight

Dan Moret (USA) v Anton Kuivanen (FIN)

'Champions'

Director: Manuel Calvo
Stars: Yassir Al Saggaf and Fatima Al Banawi
Rating: 2/5
 

PROFILE OF STARZPLAY

Date started: 2014

Founders: Maaz Sheikh, Danny Bates

Based: Dubai, UAE

Sector: Entertainment/Streaming Video On Demand

Number of employees: 125

Investors/Investment amount: $125 million. Major investors include Starz/Lionsgate, State Street, SEQ and Delta Partners