Arsenal hope Fabregas will opt to stay put

ARSENE Wenger will hope Cesc Fabregas' integral role at the heartbeat of the Arsenal side is enough to persuade the midfielder to remain at the Emirates for at least another season.

The 40 million-rated Spain international, 23, has told Wenger he wants to move back to boyhood club Barcelona.

Fabregas left for Highbury aged 16 in 2003.

Arsenal, of course, have no intentions of letting their star man leave, with Fabregas contracted until 2014 and one of the highest paid players at the club.

Wenger is set for more talks with the midfielder, and key to Arsenal's hopes of convincing Fabregas to stay on for at least one more campaign look set to be two-fold.

Wenger is keen to bolster his squad over the summer, with the arrival of Morocco striker Marouane Chamakh set to shortly be confirmed ahead of further additions before the start of the new campaign, while Fabregas' integral role at the heartbeat of the Arsenal team would not be guaranteed at the Nou Camp.

Barcelona are close to signing another player, after agreeing a fee of 35m with Valencia for Spain striker David Villa, who will – subject to a medical tomorrow – sign a four-year contract.