Arsenal may let Cesc Fabregas leave

The Daily Mail floats an interesting theory, suggesting that Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger would be happy to offload his captain, the mercurial Spanish midfielder Cesc Fabregas. Fabregas talked up a move to European champions Barcelona last week, saying: "If [Barcelona manager] Pep Guardiola called me, I would be delighted to go" and the newspaper suggests that for a suitable fee that would allow Wenger to reinforce his squad the young Spaniard would be permitted to leave the Emirates...

Chelsea remains in pole position to sign CSKA Moscow's winger Yuri Zhirkov for a fee of £18m after Barcelona ended their interest in the Russian wide man, the Daily Mail reveals. The arrival next week of the versatile 25-year-old, who fills in at left back or on the wing and who was reassured of his importance to Chelsea by compatriot and Blues owner Roman Abramovich, is bad news for Salomon Kalou, who looks like he will be surplus to new boss Carlo Ancelotti's requirements at Stamford Bridge...

Liverpool manager Rafa Benitez admitted yesterday that he paid over the odds for Portsmouth's Glen Johnson, who joined the Anfield club for £18.5m earlier this week, but maintained that he needed to show players such as Xabi Alonso and Alvaro Arbeloa that he was serious in his ambitions for Liverpool to challenge for the Premier League crown next season, according to the Times. Real Madrid continues to stalk the two players, and are expected to bid a combined £38m to prise them from Benitez's grip in the next few days...

Manchester City are launching a sustained campaign to unsettle Everton defender Joleon Lescott, reports the Guardian, offering £15m for the player and promising to double his current wages of £40,000 a week. Lescott, who has been an integral part of David Moyes' successful team at Goodison Park since his purchase from Wolves for £5m in 2006, has become a fringe player in Fabio Capello's England side and would be Mark Hughes third big signing of the close season after Gareth Barry's surprise capture and the long-awaited move for Roque Santa Cruz...