Gunners ‘paid £3m to keep Cesc Fabregas’

Arsenal kept its captain Cesc Fabregas from the clutches of Barcelona with a record £3 million deal last summer, it was reported today. According to Goal.com, the Arsenal board's desperation to hang onto their playmaking Spanish midfielder saw them up his weekly pay from £80,000 to £110,000 as well as backdating the increase for two years.

"Arsenal were so desperate to keep him," a boardroom source is quoted as saying. "He has become the club's talisman and the figurehead for the new generation. His status is similar to what Thierry Henry’s once was. Fabregas and his advisers know they have the club over both barrels."

Meanwhile the Gunners are said to be lining up a bid for Fulham centre-back Brede Hangeland. According to the Mirror, the Gunners are on the brink of splashing the cash following a fifth successive season without any silverware, and boss Arsene Wenger has his eyes set on the 28-year-old Norwegian national captain.

Hangeland has been a bulwark in the Fulham defence this season during their run to the semi-final of the Europa League, and though the west London side would be loathe to see him move on, the thought of making as much as £10m from his sale might help ease the pain. That's what the Mirror says is Hangeland's value, though if reports emanating from Holland are to be believed it's not a figure that will trouble Arsenal.

In an interview with Voetbal International, a Dutch magazine, Wenger says he intends to buy big during the summer to ensure Arsenal start winning trophies again: "Due to the construction of the Emirates Stadium, for many years we could not spend a lot of money," said Wenger. "Our financial situation has greatly improved. We are finally able to buy the players we think we need." Voetbal says Wenger has around €60m in the kitty (about £45m) and his priorities are a goalkeeper, central defender and midfielder.

Meanwhile, on the other side of north London, Tottenham are said to be on the verge of signing Craig Bellamy and Micah Richards from Manchester City. A report in today’s Times says that Spurs boss Harry Redknapp wants to snap up the pair during the summer as City manager Roberto Mancini seeks to streamline his squad.

Apparently Redknapp tried to do a deal for Bellamy in January's transfer window but his £10m offer came to naught. This time, however, he is more confident and Redknapp is said to be relishing the prospect of Bellamy playing alongside Gareth Bale.

As for Micah Richards, the 21-year-old has great potential but has failed to realise it at Eastlands and the Times says that Redknapp believes he can rejuvenate the defender's career. Richards and Bellamy will get the chance to showcase their skills to Redknapp next week when City play Tottenham in the penultimate league game of the season.

In other news, the French press reports that Marseille goalkeeper Steve Mandanda has expressed his wish to play in the Premier League with Manchester United his preferred choice. The 25-year-old keeper, capped a dozen times by France, has been a consistent performer between the sticks for the current leaders of the French first division, and apparently he believes it’s time he challenged himself in the world’s best league.

"Logically I’ll be at Marseille next season but one cannot be sure of anything," said Mandana. "I have had no contact but everyone knows one day I would like to join the English league. It seems that Manchester United is looking for a goalkeeper but my name was not mentioned."

Finally, the Daily Mail reports that Charlton teenager Jonjo Shelvey is about to join Liverpool, news that will dismay a chasing pack of admirers. Chelsea, Arsenal and Spurs have all been linked with the 18-year-old, whose versatility means he can play on the wing, up front or as an attacking midfielder. Shelvey made his Charlton debut two years ago and, according to the Mail, Liverpool are set to wrap up a £3m deal that will see him at Anfield next season. ·