Fabregas has agreed Barca deal, claims Spanish radio

The BBC soap Eastenders might be celebrating its 25th birthday this month but it faces the possibility of being eclipsed by football's very own soap opera with the Emirates Stadium replacing Albert Square. The will-he-stay-or-will-he-go saga involving Arsenal captain Cesc Fabregas has taken another twist with Spanish sources alleging the 22-year-old midfielder has reached a verbal agreement with Barcelona to return to the club of his youth next season.

The largest radio station in Spain, Cadena SER, has claimed that "there is a firm agreement between Barca and Cesc Fabregas even if it is only verbal". SER went on to say that the price has yet to be agreed but in principle Arsenal are happy to see their star turn depart for the Nou Camp. "Several meetings have taken place and, following those meetings, Cesc told Barca that he wanted to rejoin them from next season," reported the radio station.

The Gunners have made no official response to the startling news and it might be that it is another stunt by Barcelona in the run up to the club's presidential elections in which both candidates, Alfons Godall and Francesc Mane, have made the recapture of Fabregas a key part of their election campaign.

Arsenal chief executive Ivan Gazidis has reportedly written to Barcelona in recent weeks asking them to desist from leaking unfounded stories to the Spanish media about Fabregas's imminent return to Spain.

Weight is given to the rumours in the Mirror, however, with the news that Bordeaux striker Marouane Chamakh is set to join Arsenal on a "five-year deal worth £50,000-a-week". According to the paper, the 25-year-old has agreed a pre-contract with the Gunners and "has told friends he will sign the deal on Friday".

The Moroccan-born Chamakh has been courted by Liverpool for several weeks but apparently chose Arsenal because he still has faith in the footballing genius of the troubled Arsenal boss, Arsene Wenger.

However, the same paper reports that Chamakh's arrival might be offset not just by the departure of Fabregas but also William Gallas. The 32-year-old centre half is a free agent this summer and had asked Arsenal for a two-year contract, which goes against the club's policy of offering only one-year deals to players over 30. Wenger thought about making an exception to his rule, but now the Mirror says he has "decided against that" and as a result Gallas could be on his way out of the Emirates at the end of the season with AC Milan his most likely destination.

"Arsene has had a policy with players who are aged over 30 to offer them one-year extensions," Arsenal chairman Peter Hill-Wood said. "He has not asked us to make an exception for Gallas. If he did I am sure the board would agree to it. It is not out of the question, but it is certainly not on the table at the moment."

In other news Liverpool might have lost out in the race to sign Chamakh but the papers are reporting that they have scooped the prize of 28-year-old Standard Liege striker Milan Jovanovic, beating off competition from Manchester City and Valencia.

"We have spoken with Rafa Benitez and he convinced us about his project for the club," said Zoran Stojadinovic, the player's agent. "Milan [Jovanovic] speaks the language and adaptation will not be a problem for him when he moves to England." Jovanovic, who is expected to impress for Serbia in this summer's World Cup, is said to have agreed a deal that will bring him a weekly wage of £40,000.

The Mail reports that Manchester United have their eye on a couple of Italian youngsters, Roma's pair of 15-year-olds Valerio Verre and Filippo Cipriani. According to the paper, the club's Italian scout David Williams has been impressed with midfielder Verre and defender Cipriani, and recommended them to Alex Ferguson. The news has apparently alarmed Roma who see them as part of their future.