Barcelona coach Pep Guardiola is demanding president Sandro Rosell sign Arsenal captain Cesc Fabregas this week.
The People says an understanding is in place between the player and his manager, Arsene Wenger, that he could stay behind from their Asia tour as his proposed switch to the Nou Camp develops.
Barca are poised to up their offer to £35million tomorrow in a bid to finally push the deal through.
And that will delight manager Guardiola, who wants the long-running saga put to bed, so that Fabregas can have as long a pre-season as possible with his new team-mates.
Guardiola is believed to have asked Rosell to conclude the deal as quickly as possible and that has convinced the Barcelona president to up the ante.
Sources close to Fabregas say he reiterated his desire to return to Barcelona to Wenger at the end of last week but, until now, Barcelona only wanted to make a down-payment of around £9m with the rest to follow in instalments.
Arsenal, however, have refused to budge and are set to get their way.
