Barcelona are ready to make an opening offer for Arsenal captain Cesc Fabregas.

The Mail on Sunday says Barcelona will make an official approach for Cesc on Monday when sporting director Txiki Begiristain calls Arsenal chief executive Ivan Gazidis to discuss a £30million deal.

And despite the insistence of Arsenal chairman Peter Hill-Wood that the player is not for sale, the Premier League club are expected to agree a deal if Barcelona can raise the bid to closer to £40m.

Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger has been directly informed by Cesc that he wants to join Barcelona.