Arsenal await Barcelona raid for Cesc Fabregas

The transfer window does not open for another two and a half months, but already the big guns are preparing their ground for their activity, with Spanish and European champions Barcelona putting down a marker on two of the Premier League's most explosive talents.

The La Liga club's sporting director, Txiki Beguiristain, is quoted in the Guardian as admitting the club's interest in Manchester City's Brazilian striker Robinho, and Arsenal's captain - and former Barcelona player - Cesc Fabregas. Of Robinho, Beguiristain says: "He is a very interesting footballer and he can play in the Champions League [because he is not cup-tied for Europe with Manchester City].

"There are possibilities for strengthening. We will be very alert to see if an interesting option comes up. In January it is the African Nations Cup [Barcelona will lose midfielders Seydou Keita and Yaya Toure]. We are going to see if some of our defenders can play in midfield. It is an option. Depending on that we could look for a forward."

Although he once played for Barcelona's greatest rivals, Real Madrid, Robinho could be persuaded to move back to Spain. He has only started three games at Eastlands this season, being kept out of the first team line-up by Welsh international Craig Bellamy, and is yet to open his account.

Fabregas, of course, spent all of summer fending off questions about whether he would be returning to the Camp Nou, and was made Arsenal's skipper in an attempt to ring fence him from the attentions of the Catalan giants. Beguiristain waxes lyrical about the 22-year-old.

"Cesc is a player who has the Barca profile," he said. "He was born suckling upon the teat of the football [we play] here. One day he will end up playing at the Camp Nou. I am sure of it." Fabregas, on international duty with Spain, rebuffed the advances yet again, saying: "I have a contract with Arsenal and I must complete that for my current team. Everything just started and I think only about the best for Arsenal." ·