Barcelona president Joan Laporta is convinced he can sign Arsenal captain Cesc Fabregas.

El Mundo Deportivo says an agreement to sign Fabregas in August was all but done, only for Arsene Wenger to veto the deal and it is hard to see the French manager taking a different stance now.

The Spain midfielder has also insisted his commitment to the Gunners should not be questioned, though it is widely expected he will one day return to the club where he came through the ranks before moving to north London as a 16-year-old.

Laporta is now pushing for a mid-season transfer in case he is out-manoeuvred by political rivals. He wants to sign Fabregas so that the 22-year-old does not become an election issue.