Barcelona have told Manchester United that Cesc Fabregas is not for sale.
United confirmed on Monday that they had submitted an improved bid - understood to be £30m plus add-ons for the midfielder - but reports in Spain claim that has been turned down. "Fabregas is not for sale," a Barcelona source said on Monday. "
The president (Sandro Rosell) has been very clear with Man United."
Old Trafford boss David Moyes earlier said he may be forced to admit defeat.
When asked whether he would give up on Fabregas were the deal to drag on, Moyes said: "I think a point does come but I think when you are interested in good players you want to give it every opportunity to materialise. And I'll do that.
"I'll hope that things can continue to try to move forward.
"At this moment I can only tell you that Ed Woodward (United's executive vice-chairman) is working hard to make the deals happen and we're hoping some of them will fall into place shortly."
United confirmed they had made a £25m offer for the 26-year-old midfielder last Monday, with Woodward leading the negotiations.
"As I understand it, Ed had a response [to the first bid]," said Moyes at a news conference in Yokohama, Japan.
"We have made a second offer, but Ed is dealing with it rather than me."
Two days after United's initial offer was confirmed, Woodward returned from the Australia leg of their pre-season tour to attend to urgent transfer business.
Barcelona have not made any official comment, but the situation has reportedly been complicated by the managerial vacancy created at the Nou Camp by Tito Vilanova's decision to step down because of ill health It is not clear whether Chelsea's pursuit of United striker Wayne Rooney has any bearing on the club's attempts to sign Fabregas.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/23404946
