Soccer:Barcelona's players believe Arsenal captain Cesc Fabregas will be joining them at the Nou Camp sooner rather than later. Although the transfer has yet to be completed, news from the Catalan capital indicates it will be done soon.

Barcelona goalkeeper Victor Valdes believes a deal to bring Fabregas back to the club is close, eight years after he departed as a youth player to join Arsenal. When asked at a press conference if the arrival of Fabregas was imminent, Valdes said: “I hope so yes, and if the news is confirmed it will be great news, above all for one person, a friend, and the Barcelona fans.

“I’m not disclosing anything, but as you know it is advanced, and although it is not official it will surely be closed very soon.”

Asked if he could imagine a Barcelona without Fabregas next season, the goalkeeper added: “I can’t imagine it. I think that the news is almost confirmed and he will surely come, but anything could happen. I think that it will be confirmed and I’m very happy.”

Barcelona’s central defensive pair Carles Puyol and Gerard Pique took to Twitter yesterday afternoon to welcome their Spain colleague back to the Nou Camp.

Captain Puyol posted: “Welcome home!!! Happy to have you here cesc4official ooohhhh.”

Pique tweeted: “ cesc4official. Now we have him here!”

Fabregas has been omitted from the Arsenal squad for this evening’s match at Newcastle. Samir Nasri is also being tipped for a move to Manchester City, although Gunners manager Arsene Wenger gave a series of non-committal answers when questioned over possible departures at a press conference previewing the Premier League opener.

“I expect nobody to leave the club,” he said at the club’s training ground, confirming that Fabregas has not gone on strike.

When asked if therefore they will stay, Wenger responded: “That’s a good conclusion from my statement. I believe the best thing for us, one day before the season starts, is not to focus on the possible transfers.

“I cannot say it will never happen, I cannot say it will happen. At the moment there is no news and if we have any news to give you, I promise you we will do it.”

Fabregas has been agitating for a move to Barcelona, the club he left as a 16-year-old in 2003, for the past two summers. Nasri’s desire to leave emerged far more recently — and the prospect of losing arguably his two best players must be daunting for Wenger.

However, the 61-year-old insists replacements can be found if necessary.

“We are all replaceable. All the cemeteries are full of replaceable people,” he said. “But you do not want to lose big players, we fight to have big players so you do not want to lose them.

“I’m not disappointed in Cesc’s behaviour. My personal feelings are not important. I take nothing personally. I have not been disappointed by Cesc’s attitude and not by Samir’s attitude. They have both been professional. The transfer speculation is disruptive but not an excuse. We have to deal with that, it is part of our job. People come in and out.”