Fabregas deal moves closer for Barca

Fabregas has told Arsenal he wants to move (GETTY IMAGES)

Barcelona's attempts to sign Cesc Fabregas were given a boost last night when Yaya Touré's agent said the Catalan club's Ivory Coast midfielder would be willing to move in the opposite direction as part of a player-plus-cash deal.

Until now Touré has refused to be part of any deal for Fabregas (above) and his representative, Dmitri Seluk, has been touting his player elsewhere, including Manchester United and Chelsea, as well as presenting Barça with an offer from Manchester City last week, which they rejected.

But last night Seluk said: "The Fabregas deal could happen thanks to Touré. [Arsène] Wenger likes him and they are interested in signing him. If the conditions are right the deal could be closed very soon."

Despite Seluk's comments, Barça sources last night suggested that no second Fabregas offer was imminent.