A move to Barcelona is looking less likely for Arsenal captain Cesc Fabregas.

Barca's January agreement for PSV Eindhoven midfielder Ibrahim Afellay is seen as all but ending their interest in Cesc.

Sport says a move for the Emirates Stadium idol is increasingly fraught with difficulty at a club struggling with debts and cashflow problems.

Barca's bid last summer of less than £30m was considered derisory by Arsenal and the Catalans don't expect a much softer stance at the end of the season.

It is estimated that prising him from north London would cost a total of about £85m when the fee, salary and commissions are taken into account - which is way beyond what Barca can afford.