Although a new Fabregas   bid was not formally tabled, Barcelona were back in contact with Arsenal   following their rejection last week of a £27 million offer. The talks on   Wedneday were understood to be productive and, while there remains some   difference in the valuations, there is a mounting sense that this most   protracted transfer saga is finally nearing an end. Barcelona have increased   their valuation of Fabregas to almost £35 million, with Arsenal believed to   be holding out for a deal that, with add-ons, they can present to their fans   as more like £40 million.

Significantly, Arsenal have adopted a very different strategy with Barcelona   to last summer, when they would not entertain any form of talks. They also   quickly issued a public statement to make it clear that their captain was   not for sale. Arsenal’s engagement in private correspondence this summer   suggests an acceptance that they will not block Fabregas’s departure as long   as there is an acceptable offer. From a PR perspective, it would also be   helpful for them to clinch one or more of their own transfer targets — they   have made significant progress on Gervinho, Gary Cahill and Ricardo Alvarez   — before any announcement on Fabregas.

Fabregas is currently in Spain and said he was “calm” when asked on Wedneday   about his future. “If a player is on the market it is because a club doesn’t   want you”, he said

Nasri and Clichy could also be following Fabregas out of the Emirates. Manchester   United manager Sir Alex Ferguson believes that a £20 million bid   could be enough to lure Nasri. Despite Arsène Wenger’s insistence earlier   this month that, “one thing’s for sure: we’re not selling him [Nasri] to   Manchester United”, Ferguson has become encouraged by his chances of landing   the French international.

With the player refusing to commit to a new contract, Arsenal risk losing the   24 year-old for nothing when his deal expires next summer. United have been   informed that Nasri is prepared to leave for Old Trafford. Yet Wenger’s   resistance to selling one of his best players to United, particularly if it   coincides with the loss of Fabregas, is likely to provide a formidable   obstacle to Ferguson.

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Talks involving third parties linked to United and Nasri took place earlier   this month and senior figures at Old Trafford believe the economics of the   deal, with Arsenal standing to receive a substantial fee for a player   entering the final year of his contract, will ultimately prove decisive in   their favour.

Manchester City are monitoring Nasri’s situation, with the player listed as a   secondary target, but are ready to bid £7 million for defender Clichy .

United have taken their summer spending to £49.8 million by completing the   £18.3 million signing of Atlético Madrid goalkeeper David de Gea. He is set   to make his debut against Seattle Sounders on July 20.

United chief executive David Gill has claimed that the punishment meted out to   Ferguson and Wayne Rooney by the Football Association last season has added   to the belief at Old Trafford that United are victims of disciplinary double   standards.

“I genuinely believe there have been some poorish decisions that, in my   opinion, wouldn’t necessarily have hit other clubs,” said Gill. “What better   way to demonstrate the authorities are being tough than by hitting one of   the biggest clubs the hardest?”

Aston Villa winger Young underwent a medical with the Premier League  champions on Wednesday, and completed his £15million switch to Old Trafford this  afternoon.

But the Red Devils, who have also snapped up Phil  Jones from Blackburn for £16million, are almost certain to smash their  previous summer transfer record with at least two more big-name signings.

Goalkeeper David De Gea is understood to be arriving from Atletico Madrid in  a £19million deal, and Ferguson still needs to plug the creative gap in his  midfield vacated by Paul Scholes’ retirement.

Luka Modric and Wesley Sneijder are two names who have been heavily linked  with a switch to United, and both would comfortably set Fergie back in excess of £30million.

Ferguson's rumoured targets is also likely to see United eclipse the transfer  spending of 'noisy neighbours' City, whose money-spinning summers have turned  heads for the past two years.

The previous transfer spending record for one summer at Old Trafford was set  in 2001, when United splashed out £50million on Ruud Van Nistlerooy (£19m), Juan  Sebastian Veron (£28m), and Laurent Blanc (£2m).

Man City hold the overall Premier League record for total spending in a  single transfer window - they paid out £125.5million for new recruits in the  summer of 2009.

But despite being linked with big-name stars such as Cristiano Ronaldo, Kaka,  Lionel Messi, and Zlatan Ibrahimovic, Roberto Mancini is yet to open his  chequebook.

The Gunners appear to have beaten off competition from the Rosanero,  as well as Roma, for £12million-rated Alvarez, who has recently led his side to  the Argentinian league title.

Speaking to Radio Kiss Kiss,  Zamparini revealed Palermo were originally the ones in the driving seat for the  23-year-old midfielder, until their dallying let Arsene Wenger’s side steal  in.

MORE: Arsenal  transfer news and rumours

‘We did have a concrete bid for Alvarez and had him in our grasp back in  January,’ said the Rosanero chief.

‘Unfortunately, we didn’t complete the move in time, so we lost him to  Arsenal.

‘At this moment he has already signed for the Gunners.’

The Argentine ace is represented by the same agent as Palermo playmaker  Javier Pastore, who is being chased by Chelsea.

But Zamparini says the arrival of Andre Villas-Boas at Stamford Bridge may  have scuppered the chance of the highly-rated 22-year-old moving to the Blues.

‘Pastore is absolutely a top player and there are three or four clubs  tracking him,’ added Zaparini.

‘Chelsea are among them, but we have to see what their new coach Andre  Villas-Boas has to say.’