Barcelona president Joan Laporta insists their pursuit of Arsenal captain Cesc Fabregas remains on course.

Fabregas informed Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger earlier this month of his desire to leave the Emirates Stadium, and the Spanish champions are hopeful of tying up a deal despite admitting they face difficult negotiations with Arsenal.

"We are being prudent in the sense that we are not going to do things that are not logical," Laporta told the Spanish press.

"We have a player who has expressed his intention of coming to Barcelona.

"He (Fabregas) has said it and I want to thank him publicly for that decision."

With Fabregas' contract at the club expiring in 2015, Arsenal hold all the cards.

"We are working on it," said Laporta. "We will try to achieve his signature and if we don't get there with time, at least we will have opened a path.

"The possibility is always there but the other part (Arsenal) has to defend their interests and perhaps has a different strategy.

"We are trying to find a halfway point for both sides to agree."