Real Madrid and Barcelona are ready for a £60 million battle over Arsenal captain Cesc Fabregas.

The Daily Star says the Spanish giants have both made the Arsenal skipper their No.1 target for next season and are ready to go toe to toe.

Spanish and European champions Barca face elections for a new president next summer and all the candidates will promise to sign Fabregas.

This in-house battle at Barca alone will drive up the price, but the situation is complicated even more by Madrid's interest.

President Florentino Perez is desperate to stop Barca from 'repatriating' one of their former youth stars from Arsenal.

Arsene Wenger does not want to lose his key player and skipper, but knows the only way to keep him is by winning a major trophy.