Madrid reportedly considering bid for Fabregas

After being rebuffed in its quests for Liverpool's Xabi Alonso and Roma midifelder Daniele De Rossi, Real Madrid is preparing a swoop for Arsenal's Cesc Fabregas, according to Spanish daily Marca.

The Spanish giants continue their quest for a creative playmaker for the squad and are studying their available options after Roma rejected an offer in the region of $42 million for De Rossi.

Real Madrid is refusing to meet Liverpool's $65.2 million price tag for Alonso, and reports indicate that the Arsenal man is now the next target on Florentino Perez's list.

Last week, reports in England suggested that Arsenal valued Fabregas at $69.4 million, a figure Real is refusing to pay. However, the Spanish club is understood to believe that a deal could be made for a lower fee.

This despite Fabregas himself having repeatedly stated that he sees his future -- at least for the coming season -- at the Emirates, trying to ensure Arsenal ends its four-year trophy drought.

Real Madrid has not given up on signing Alonso just yet and will still try to flesh out a deal for the Liverpool man before approaching an almost certainly unreceptive Arsenal for Fabregas, who is also persistently linked with Barcelona, his hometown club, with whom he began his football career as a junior.