Arsenal cash in on Cesc Fabregas' transfer to Chelsea

According to SportsMail, Arsenal will pocket £5.6million from the sale of former Gunner Cesc Fabregas to Chelsea.

The Spanish midfielder completed his return to London on Thursday in a £30m move from Barcelona, signing a contract in the region of £150,000-a-week.

But the deal will also boost Arsenal's already healthy £100million transfer budget and enable them to pursue striker Mario Balotelli who is among manager Arsene Wenger's summer targets.

In addition to the buy-back clause, Arsenal were also believed to have struck a deal entitling them to 50 percent of the profit from Fabregas' next move.

Arsenal snubbed the chance to re-sign their former captain but will still benefit from the sale of the 27-year-old to their rivals.

And, in announcing his return to the Premier League, Fabregas was quick to underline the fact his former club rejected the chance to bring him back to the Emirates Stadium.

Fabregas came through the ranks at Arsenal, and went on to captain the side before returning to boyhood club Barcelona in 2011.

Arsenal secured a first-option buy-back clause as part of the £35million deal which saw Fabregas return to Catalonia.

Gunners boss Arsene Wenger had considered taking up the option once it became clear Barca were looking to sell the midfielder.

But with the likes of Aaron Ramsey, Mesut Ozil, Jack Wilshere, Mikel Arteta and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain already at the club, Wenger decided his squad did not need another creative midfielder.