Fabregas the Elder steps into Barca-Arsenal dispute

The Cesc Fabregas plot thickens once more with news that the Arsenal skipper's dad has "opened the door" for negotiations with Barcelona. As reported on The First Post yesterday, and the day before, and indeed nearly every day this year, Fabregas is being targeted by the Spanish giants who see him as a long-term part of their future.

And according to the Mirror, Fabregas' old man, also called Francesc, has told Barca they are open to offers but that the Catalan club should "make any approach official". The paper quotes Fabregas Snr as telling Spanish radio station Kanal: "If something has to happen - we will see at the end of the season. We would talk. But to be talking about these at the middle of the season...I understand Arsenal being angry.

"If a club is interested in a player, then it should go to the other club and try to negotiate. This is the way to function always. If this thing has to happen, it has to be this way: Barca going to talk to Arsenal. That goes the same with Cesc and for the rest of the players."

Fabregas the Elder also took time out during the interview to call on Barcelona to show more respect: "Imagine if this could happen to a Barca player. Everybody would be very annoyed with these speculations. This is why I think that the best thing to do it is to leave this thing here, because Cesc belongs to Arsenal. I always think: do not do what you do not want them to do to you."

Wise words from the footballer's dad-turned-philosopher, though sure to fall on deaf ears, particularly as, according to the Daily Star, Barcelona are having to fight off some unwanted attention of their own – from Chelsea. The paper says the Blues' first summer transfer target is Barca's highly-rated defender Dani Alves.

Chelsea boss Carlo Ancelotti is reported to have put aside £30m to bring the Brazilian right-back to Stamford Bridge, even though the 26-year-old's contract with Barcelona runs until 2012. Alves, who has scored three times for his club this season, has turned out more than 30 times for Brazil and will play an important part in the South Americans' bid to win a sixth World Cup this summer.

The Star reports that Chelsea have "been in touch" with Alves' agent and assured him that the Brazilian's £100,000-a-week wage bill would not be a problem.

Still in Spain, and still with Chelsea, the Sun says that the Blues are competing with Manchester United for the services of Sergio Aguero. The 21-year-old Argentine striker – a son-in-law of troubled genius Diego Maradona - is currently with Atletico Madrid but the paper says the two Premier League clubs are vying for his signature, with Chelsea reportedly ready to offer £40m.

Aguero is quoted as saying: "I have enormous affection for Atletico but you cannot say I'll be here for ever. At the moment, I'm happy here and love the fans. I hope I can do well for them on the pitch."

Finally, the Mirror reports that Manchester City's ex-boss Mark Hughes has been lined up to be West Ham's next manager. Hughes was unceremoniously dumped by City last autumn but with current Hammers' boss Gianfranco Zola "fighting for his future", the paper reports that new owners David Gold and David Sullivan have earmarked Hughes as his replacement should Zola be unable to prevent West Ham slipping out of the Premier League this season. ·