Arsenal have told Barcelona they can sign Cesc Fabregas - for £80 MILLION. The Gunners will not consider selling their midfield superstar to Barcelona until after the World Cup - even though he has already told manager Arsene Wenger he wants to rejoin his boyhood club.

The Catalan giants were hoping for a quickie £30m deal allowing the Spanish international to concentrate on the World Cup - but Arsenal have made it clear they will not budge.

Boss Wenger is still privately hoping to price Fabregas, 23, out of a move.

A top Arsenal source told The Sun: "This could go all the way to August 31 and it won't help anyone.

"The 'will he, won't he' situation could be similar to the one we had with Patrick Vieira almost every summer until he went to Juventus.

"But of course the consequences of a late deal could be serious, particularly for Arsenal. Their planning for the season will be compromised since there will not be time to find and, more importantly, bed in a replacement."