Manchester United on Monday night triggered a battle with Arsenal for the signature of Cesc Fabregas after making a £26million bid for the Barcelona star.United, yet to make a major signing under new boss David Moyes, have submitted a formal offer to the Spanish champions.Moyes has identified the 26-year-old midfielder as the creative player to solve the attacking weaknesses some pundits think prevented United going further in the Champions League last season.Having decided not to pursue initial interest in Luka Modric of Real Madrid and having pulled out of the contest with Bayern Munich to sign Fabregas’s team-mate Thiago Alcantara, United have now set their sights on luring the Spaniard back to the Barclays Premier League just two years after he left Arsenal for the Nou Camp.It is understood that Moyes has also got his former Everton midfielder Marouane Fellaini in his sights as a reserve option if he can’t capture Fabregas. However, United are serious about the Barca star and will increase their bid above £30m if they feel that is what it takes.Arsenal have first refusal on Fabregas at a fixed price of £25m, an agreement that was struck when they sold him. Arsenal are also entitled to 50 per cent of any profit from his next move.However, the first refusal clause in his contract will only work in the London club’s favour if Fabregas decides he wants to return to the Emirates rather than switch to Old Trafford.United believe that they can sell a move to the North West to Fabregas by offering him the chance to reunite with former team-mate Robin van Persie and by telling him that he will be a central cog in a midfield unit that Moyes hopes will also include another new signing. For his part, Fabregas suggested earlier this summer that he doesn’t want to leave Barcelona, despite the fact that he has failed to nail down a regular starting place in the face of competition from players like Xavi and Andres Iniesta. AgenciesNevertheless, United would not have launched this bid had they not thought they had a chance of it succeeding.United owners the Glazer family have been intent on making at least one marquee signing since the start of the summer and have told Moyes they will back him in the transfer market.Meanwhile, Van Persie joined up with United in Australia on Monday ahead of Saturday’s game against the Australian All Stars. The Dutch star was given extra time off by Moyes after playing for Holland earlier in the summer.It also emerged that United face a battle to keep young Belgian starlet Adnan Januzaj. The 18-year-old, who impressed in United’s defeat in Bangkok at the weekend, is attracting interest from Barcelona and Juventus.
