BARCELONA have officially tabled a £27million bid for Cesc Fabregas.
Barca president Sandro Rossell made the verbal offer to Arsenal chief executive Ivan Gazidis.
But the bid from the European champions was immediately rejected.
Barca - having ended the phoney war - are now ready to increase their bid to £30m.
But that will not be enough to tempt Emirates manager Arsene Wenger to sell.
However, a £35m offer could seriously test Arsenal's resolve to hang on to Fabregas, 24.
And Barca remain confident that they will finally get their man.
A year ago, the Spanish giants failed with £29m and £31m bids for Fabregas, who is still keen to return to the club where he started his career.