Arsenal say NO to Fabregas return! Wenger will snub chance to re-sign former captain as Liverpool and Chelsea plot move for £30m Barca misfit

Arsenal have turned down the chance to sign Cesc Fabregas even though the player is available for £30million.

Fabregas, who was in London to film a Beats by Dre advert this weekend, is keen to return to England and has attracted interest from Liverpool and Chelsea.

Barcelona are willing to sell the player for £30m and are contractually obliged to let Arsenal match any bid they receive.

But it is understood that, with Mesut Ozil and Santi Cazorla already in the squad, Arsenal priorities are elsewhere, notably in strengthening up front.

They are searching for a defensive midfielder, with Mikel Arteta in the final year of his contract, and are ready to move for Sven Bender, the Borussia Dortmund player.

Fabregas is disappointed not to have the opportunity to move back to the club where he was captain and left in 2011.

He maintains a good relationship with manager Arsene Wenger but there is a mutual understanding that now is not the right time to return, given the amount of creative midfielders Arsenal have.