Barcelona today clinched the £34million signing of David Villa and tried to smooth the way for Cesc Fabregas to rejoin the club.
The Spanish champions announced that, subject to a medical on Friday morning, the 28-year-old will move from Valencia on a four-season deal.
Villa has scored 107 goals in 166 League matches in five years with Valencia and will help Spain try to add the World Cup to their Euro 2008 title this summer.
His arrival is likely to see Thierry Henry move to Major League Soccer, with club president Joan Laporta saying there was "a lot of interest" in the forward from the United States.
The next transfer at the Nou Camp, though, is likely to be the arrival of Fabregas from Arsenal. The midfielder, who played for Barca's youth team, has told close friends in Spain that "it breaks his heart to have to leave" but feels it is time to go.
Fabregas' deal runs until 2014 and comments today from Barca sporting director Txiki Begiristain about the player were merely an attempt to maintain relations between the clubs ahead of talks. He said: "It's great news that he wants to come here but we have to respect Arsenal's wishes and the contract he has."
