"Manchester United believe the financial burden of sanctioning the £51.3 million purchase of Neymar and Lionel Messis renegotiated £17 million-a-year contract could force Barcelona to strike a deal for the sale of Cesc Fabregas.
Despite claims by Barcelona coach Tito Vilanova that Fabregas wants to stay here in the wake of Uniteds £26 million bid for the former Arsenal captain, the Premier League champions remain confident in their prospects of signing the player before the transfer deadline next month.
Having been identified by manager David Moyes as the priority target in attempts to reinforce the clubs midfield, United are prepared for a protracted battle in order to lure Fabregas back to England.
But with United already hopeful that the 26-year-old is keen to move to Old Trafford, the clubs confidence has been further fuelled by a belief that Barcelona are in a process of raising funds and reducing their wage bill following the signing of Brazilian forward Neymar and confirmation of Messis lucrative six-year contract, which was signed by the Argentine in February.
The Spanish champions, who banked £17 million from the departure of Thiago Alcântara to Bayern Munich, have also waved through the cut-price £1.8  million sale of forward David Villa to Atlético Madrid.
Barcelona are also prepared to listen to offers for Chilean winger Alexis Sánchez, a £32 million buy from Udinese in 2011, and the Dutch midfielder Ibrahim Afellay, who spent last season on loan at Schalke.
While Barcelona would prefer to keep Fabregas at the Nou Camp, Uniteds offer has yet to be rejected by the club. Coach Vilanova is keen to retain Fabregas and he claimed yesterday that the player has informed him of his desire to stay.
I know he has received offers from other teams, Vilanova said. But Cesc has told me he wants to stay here. He has told me it is his dream to stay with Barcelona. He doesnt want to go to other teams for money reasons or playing time. He knows there is competition for places here, but his decision is to stay. I am relaxed about the situation.
However, senior figures at United believe that a deal can be struck with a player who has grown frustrated by his lack of action in Barcelonas key fixtures. Although Moyes has been told that he will be backed with significant funds in the transfer market by the clubs owners, the Glazer family, United are prepared to be patient in their pursuit of Fabregas before considering an increased offer."