Former Arsenal midfielder Paul Merson is convinced captain Cesc Fabregas will leave the Gunners during the summer’s transfer window.

Speaking to Sportsvibe.co.uk, the Englishman explained that the Spain International wanted to leave to join Barcelona last summer but manager Arsene Wenger managed to convince him to stay for one more season.

Believing that the 23-year failed to do what Cristiano Ronaldo did for Manchester United in his last year at the club, Merson added that if the Spaniard does indeed leave to move back to Spain it will be important for Arsene Wenger to replace him with an experienced player.

Asked who can be the one, the 43-year old explained that West Ham United’s Scott Parker possesses enough quality and enough experience at the age of 30 to give Arsenal two top class seasons in which he will make the difference in midfield.

On the Gunners’ midfielder, Merson said:

Fabregas will be gone at the end of the season. He wanted to go last year but Wenger managed to convince him to stay for another year and it just hasn’t worked out.

I think Wenger was hoping that Fabregas would somehow do what Ronaldo did for United and propel them to the title, but what Ronaldo did was simply phenomenal.

I think that if Fabregas does go then Wenger should make an English centre-half his main priority. Arsenal don’t need a player that will reach his peak in three or four years, they need someone to come in and do the job straight away.

I’m a big fan of Scott Parker. Even though he is 30 he is till a top draw player. He could come in to the club for one or two seasons and you know that he would make a massive difference.