<<Print>>

ARSENAL have told Real Madrid the bidding for Cesc Fabregas starts at �54million. Real director Jose Angel Sanchez contacted the Gunners hours after Arsene Wenger declared this week there had been no inquiries for Fab. And the Spanish giants are ready to meet Arsenal's demands in their determination to trump Barcelona. A Real source said: "The president Florentino Perez has identified Fabregas as the one signing above all others to hurt Barcelona. "He believes signing Fabregas would be a real statement of intent for next season. He will do whatever is needed to put the club back above Barca." Perez is ready to sanction a �100m spending spree to keep Fabregas - also a Manchester City target - and Atletico Madrid striker Sergio Aguero out of Barcelona's clutches.Real sources claim that Arsenal have made it clear they will not sell Fabregas to another English Club. Barcelona-born midfielder Fabregas, 24, has set h is heart on a return to the Nou Camp after eight years in England.But the newly-crowned European Champions are not prepared to increase the �30million bid Arsenal rejected last summer.