Barcelona sporting director Txiki Begiristain has admitted the club want to take Arsenal midfielder Cesc Fabregas back to the Nou Camp, but will not overpay for him.
Barca have long been linked with their former youth player, and Begiristain identified him as one of the few players capable of improving a team that won a domestic and European treble last season.
“It depends on how much we want to spend,” he said in Marca. “If we spend a lot of money, it is possible (to bid for Fabregas). We do not know how much it will be yet. We have not asked Arsenal. If the amount is too high, we will not try.”
Barcelona are feeling some pressure to spend from their fans following the spending spree of rivals Real Madrid, who have invested more than £220million on the likes of Cristiano Ronaldo, Kaka and Xabi Alonso this summer.
However, Begiristain does not intend to spend for spending’s sake.
“We find it difficult to improve what we have and that is the reality,” he said. Improving a team that has won a treble is difficult, and trying to improve dramatically can get you into trouble. Any new player must be compatible with the plans of the coach. Here the views of Pep Guardiola are critical.”