Chelsea news: Fenerbahce keeping tabs on Cesc Fabregas as midfielder nears exit

The Spanish international has found his chances limited since Maurizio Sarri took over at Stamford Bridge in the summer.

The 31 year-old former Arsenal and Barcelona man is out of contract at the end of the season and is unlikely to get a new deal from The Blues.

He is set to be allowed to leave when the January transfer window opens and has already got long term suitors AC Milan interested in signing him.

But now the Turkish giants who are languishing in mid-table are also keen on landing him as they look to improve their league position in the second half of the season.

Fabregas recently hinted at a return to Arsenal but Milan are the favourites to solve their midfield crisis with his signature.

Fabregas was an unused substitute as Chelsea were beaten 3-1 against Tottenham at Wembley.

The Spaniard has only made three appearances in the Premier League this season.

Fabregas’ time at Chelsea has slowly deteriorated since Jose Mourinho left the club.

He fell behind in the pecking order during Antonio Conte’s tenure.

Nemanja Matic and N’Golo Kante were the preferred midfield duo when Chelsea won the Premier League in the 2016/17 season.

The likes of Ross Barkley, Mateo Kovacic and Ruben Loftus-Cheek are ahead of Fabregas in Chelsea’s midfield.

And former Chelsea star Joe Cole believes Kovacic is the best option.

“I think he’s different class,” Cole recently said of Kovacic.

“We know he isn’t a prolific goalscorer from midfield but when you watch him closely what he does is he drives with the ball.

“Straight away that’s unnerving the (opposition) back four because he’s got that ability to just ghost past players.

“Cesc Fabregas is a great player but what he gives Chelsea on top of what Cesc can’t do is he can drive and take players out of the game from a central midfield position.”