TRANSFER BATTLES: Fabregas, Tevez, Suarez, Mangala, Bale.

                    

Manchester United continue to be linked with Barcelona's Cesc Fabregas but it looks like they will need some help from Premier League rivals Arsenal to land him. David Moyes would love to make the Spanish midfielder his first big signing but Arsenal have the first buy-back option on their former captain.

As part of the deal that brought Fabregas to the Camp Nou in 2011, Arsenal inserted a clause which says they must be notified of any offer for him and then be given the first option of buying him back for £20-£25m if Barcelona decide to sell.

Things get even more complicated because if Barcelona end up selling him to another club then Arsenal are entitled to a 50 per cent sell-on clause according to the Mail.

That would mean the Liga champions would have to receive a bid of £70m for the player from United just to break even on the £35m they paid for him.

              

Fabregas is believed to be "frustrated" at Barcelona and open to the idea of moving back to England, and all the above complications mean that an emotional return to Arsenal would be the easiest move to manufacture.

It is believed Fabregas would be keen on a return to the Emirates but Arsene Wenger might not be eager to spend a big chunk of his transfer kitty on his former player.

"While a new central midfielder is on the club's shopping list, Wenger is looking for a more defensive-minded player," explains the Mail.



"And with Jack Wilshere, Mikel Arteta, Aaron Ramsey and Santi Cazorla all vying for central midfield slots, Wenger may view the signing of another creative player as unnecessary, leaving him with the dilemma of turning Fabregas down."

United managed to get Arsenal to sell them Robin van Persie last summer, but persuading them to drop their cut of any Fabregas deal looks a much harder proposition.

                      

To other rumours, and Real Madrid have offered Luis Suarez a four-year contract worth £140,000-a-week. Real believe there is a £40m buy-out clause in the controversial 26-year-old's contract, but will only go to £25m as a straight-cash fee. Instead, they are prepared to offer Liverpool a player-plus-cash deal of £20m plus their Spain Under-21 forward Jose Callejon. (Daily Mirror)

                    

The first test of Jose Mourinho’s second spell as Chelsea manager is likely to surround the future of David Luiz after it emerged that the Portuguese has earmarked the Brazil defender as his most saleable asset as he seeks to raise the funds required to reshape his new side. Mourinho is also thought to be unconvinced by Branislav Ivanovic, John Obi Mikel and Fernando Torres and would like to bring in Sami Khedira from Real Madrid. (The Times)

                       

Mourinho also wants Porto centre-half Eliaquim Mangala as his first Chelsea buy - but not at the £30m asking price. (The Sun)

                               

Tottenham are ready to dump David Bentley, William Gallas, Emmanuel Adebayor, Benoit Assou-Ekotto, Jake Livermore, Tom Huddlestone and Heurelho Gomes off the wage bill to help finance a new deal for Gareth Bale. (Daily Mail)

                    

Carlos Tevez, the Manchester City forward, expects to meet the club’s hierarchy next week to establish whether he has a future at the Etihad Stadium. The Argentina striker has emerged as a target for a number of continental sides, including Juventus and Monaco. (The Times)