Barcelona again come calling for Arsenal's Cesc Fabregas

Fabregas has been linked with a move back to Spain for the last couple of years but has always pledged his loyalty to Wenger.

However, a lack of silverware at the Emirates has seen the Spanish international grow increasingly frustrated and he recently criticised Arsenal's "impotence" in challenging for titles.

Real Madrid and Barca have been monitoring Fabregas' situation with interest, although both have baulked at the £40 million asking price.

Nevertheless, the Catalans, who Fabregas left to join Arsenal in 2003 as a 16-year-old, have not given up hope of unveiling the 22-year-old as a Barcelona player within the next couple of years.

Laporta told Spanish radio station Cadena Cope: “Cesc Fabregas has the Barcelona DNA in his body and we know that he wants to play for this club.

"At the moment he is the leader at Arsenal and a very important player for them. But Cesc is wanted by me, by the coach Pep Guardiola and by the sport director Txiki Begiristain.

“We are concentrating all of our efforts on it, but at the same time we have a lot of respect for Arsenal. We have positive relations with Arsenal so it will not be an easy topic to talk to them about.”