Barcelona join race for Steven Gerrard

The Catalan club have so far seen their approaches for Fabregas rejected by Arsenal, who have categorically stated they are not considering selling the 23-year-old cheap.

New Barca president Sandro Rosell is reportedly uninterested in spending more than €40 million on a midfield reinforcement, and will ask coach Josep Guardiola to draw up a list of alternatives to Fabregas.

Gerrard, who has been with Liverpool his entire career, has been linked with a new challenge after experiencing a disappointing season at Anfield that ended with the departure of coach Rafael Benitez.

But the Blaugrana will have to deflect interest from Inter who have been following Gerrard for the last couple of seasons and Real Madrid, who have reportedly made the England international their top priority after failing in their efforts to sign Daniele De Rossi from Roma.