Arsenal have been rocked by Cesc Fabregas' shock split with agent Joseba Diaz.

El Mundo Deportivo says Barcelona are monitoring the developments closely having been encouraged with Diaz now off the scene. Barca sports chief Txiki Begiristain doesn't get along with Diaz, but with him now out of the picture, the prospects of Cesc returning to the Nou Camp has improved.

For their part, Arsenal have been stunned by the development, with Diaz enjoying an excellent relationship with Gunners boss Arsene Wenger and boasting Fran Merida and Manuel Almunia on his books. An Arsenal representative told El Mundo Deportivo that the split came as a "tremendous surprise".

For his part, Cesc would only tell Spanish reporters yesterday: "I will not speak about this issue."