Barcelona ‘reserve the No4 shirt for Fabregas’

According to a report in Spanish daily Mundo Deportivo Barcelona have set aside the No4 shirt for the imminent arrival of Cesc Fabregas from Arsenal. Down the years the shirt has been worn by some of Barcelona's most illustrious players, from Luis Milla to Ronald Koeman, but it's about to be vacated as last season's incumbent, Rafael Marquez, prepares to join Thierry Henry at the New York Red Bulls.

Another famous wearer of the Barca No4 shirt was Pep Guardiola, the club's current coach, and Mundo Deportivo says that one of Fabregas's most treasured possessions is a replica No4 jersey signed by Guardiola many years ago.

Mundo Deportivo seems to have taken it upon itself to push forward Barcelona's attempt to land Fabregas, despite officials from the club admitting last week that if Arsenal didn't want to sell there was nothing they could do about it.

Yesterday the paper claimed that Barcelona have successfully concluded a deal to sign the 23-year-old Fabregas after a week of secret negotiations with the Gunners.  The paper alleges that the Catalan club, who this week confessed their debts ran to a staggering £369m, will pay £40m to Arsenal to bring Fabregas to the Nou Camp.

Yet Mundo Deportivo's claims are at variance with those of Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger. Writing on the official Arsenal website, Wenger reiterated his determination to hold on to the talismanic midfielder: "He is a very important player for us, he is our captain and we have worked very hard [for him] to be the future of our team. And that is why we are always adamant about not letting him go."

As for the noises coming from Spain suggesting Fabregas is on his way to Barcelona, Wenger dismissed them with a contemptuous Gallic guffaw. "It is only noise. In our job we have to deal with what we can master. What we cannot influence is not to worry about." ·