We have not spoken to Cesc Fabregas, say Barcelona

Spanish radio station Cadena Ser had reported that a verbal agreement had been reached with the 22-year-old to return to Spain at the end of the season and rejoin the club he left more than six years ago.

Fabregas has been persistently linked with a £40million move to the European champions and the Gunners fear their star man will be used as a pawn in Barca's forthcoming presidential elections.

Although rumours will persist as Arsenal face the prospect of a fifth trophyless season, the Catalan giants felt sufficiently moved this morning to release a statement strenuously rejecting suggestions that talks had already taken place.

"Given the exceptional repercussions created by the stories that have appeared in different media with respect to an agreement with Arsenal FC player Cesc Fabregas, FCB flatly denies that there have been any negotiations or agreements with the player," read the statement.

"In accordance with FIFA regulations, FC Barcelona's contract policy has always made it a priority to negotiate with the club of origin before making any particular agreement with the player.

"FC Barcelona wishes to stress that it has always maintained excellent institutional relations with Arsenal FC."

Arsenal refused to comment publicly but privately dismissed the latest reports, while chief executive Ivan Gazidis wrote to Barcelona earlier this week in an effort to stop their public pursuit of Fabregas and clearly his warning has been heeded.

However, Barca's summer elections — where Joan Laporta will stand down — are set to complicate the situation with leading candidate Sandro Rossell expected to try and make Fabregas his marquee signing to garner favour.

As then vice-president, Rossell helped broker the deal that took Fabregas to Arsenal in September 2003 while Barca manager Pep Guardiola is among the midfielder's childhood heroes.

Only last week, Fabregas told Spanish reporters that he would like to return to Barcelona but perhaps only when he retires from football.

He said: "All of my life I have been dressing the Barca colours. Because of some facts, I had to leave and I have seen also other things that I have enjoyed a lot. But in the future you will never know what will happen.

"But I do not like to talk about the future. In football, everything goes so fast. One day, you are here. The next day, you are there.

"When I retire from football, I will live in Barcelona. But I love London a lot, me and my family love London."

Fabregas plays for Arsenal tonight against Liverpool in a match they must win to retain any chance of winning the League title.

Arsenal will be without Eduardo, who is still sidelined with a hamstring problem and Wenger must decide whether to start Nicklas Bendtner after he came on as a sub at Chelsea.