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LONDON: Arsenal chairman Peter Hill-Wood insists Barcelona will only get their wish to sign Cesc Fabregas if they meet the Gunners' valuation of their Spanish star.
Barca have been keen to sign Fabregas for over a year but the deal still hasn't been concluded because the European champions have so far refused to pay the 40 million pound ($65 million) fee that Arsenal are demanding for their captain.
Gunners boss Arsene Wenger is desperate to keep Fabregas but Hill-Wood, who admits a deal could be done if Barca are willing to up their offer, wants the matter to be resolved as soon as possible to avoid any further distractions.
“They have been messing about for a year-and-a-half now and they have got to make up their minds,” Hill-Wood told the Daily Star.
“The ball is in their court. They have made one bid of around 26 million pounds and another rather tentative one.
“If they want to buy the player they are going to have to pay the right price - and when you look at what is being paid elsewhere I don't think what we are asking is at all unreasonable.”
Asked whether the time was approaching when Arsenal would call off talks, Hill-Wood added: “We are getting close to that.”
Hill-Wood also confirmed the Gunners had a bid rejected for Everton's England defender Phil Jagielka.
“We have made a bid for him but they didn't think it was enough,” Hill-Wood said. “It is very busy but nothing is actually happening.
“We are trying to buy a few players but it isn't going to happen overnight.”
