Cesc Fabregas has medical in Barcelona hospitaln

Cesc Fabregas is a step closer to becoming a Barcelona player after starting the first of two medicals in the Spanish city.

On Sunday, Arsenal and Barca confirmed an "agreement in principle" over the sale of Fabregas.

He will discuss personal terms and is expected to be unveiled at 1300 BST after signing his contract.

It means the 24-year-old is set to return to the team he left as a 16-year-old in 2003.

"We understand Cesc's desire to move to his home-town club and have now accepted an offer from Barcelona," said Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger.

ANALYSIS
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Dan Roan,
BBC sports news correspondent
Arsenal have lost one of their most talented ever players, but Fabregas's departure will provoke as much relief as it does disappointment among the club's fans. The way he and Barcelona bullied Arsenal into submission reflected poorly on both. Arsenal deserved better and it is now time for them to move on. Finding a replacement for Fabregas (and soon Samir Nasri) will not be easy, and one wonders how much damage this saga has done to Arsene Wenger's motivation
"We have been clear that we didn't want Cesc to leave and that remains the case.

"We thank Cesc for his contribution at Arsenal and wish him future success."

Barcelona have been chasing Fabregas since last summer. As BBC Sport revealed on Friday, Arsenal will receive a guaranteed £30m transfer fee, with a further £5m dependent on the number of games played and trophies won by the Spaniard during his time at the Nou Camp.adoptioncounseling
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