Arsenal set August 5 deadline for Fabregas

Arsene Wenger is on the brink of breaking Arsenal’s transfer record to sign Juan Mata - and has got tough over Cesc Fabregas.
 
Wenger on Thursday night agreed a £17 million deal with Valencia for Mata - and has also made an increased £13 million bid for Everton defender Phil Jagielka.

But while Arsenal are finally set to start spending big this summer, they are also turning up the heat on Barcelona over the Fabregas transfer saga.
 
The Gunners' captain will not play in this weekend’s Emirates Cup and Arsenal have told Barca to make a deal at £40 million or call it off, according to the 'Mirror'.

Wenger is believed to have set a deadline of August 5 in an e-mail sent to Barcelona president Sandro Rosell, so the Frenchman can start planning for the coming season, it added.
 
Arsenal are braced for Fabregas' exit, but are fed-up of being kept waiting by Barca.
 
Fabregas is equally frustrated and is desperate to force the deal through.
 
The Spanish midfielder has missed much of the pre-season because of a hamstring injury and has been training with the youth team this week.
 
He has told Wenger he wants to leave and may resort to a transfer request to get a deal done.