Chelsea ready to sanction Cesc Fabregas loan move in January

Chelsea are open to allow Cesc Fabregas to leave the club on loan during the upcoming January transfer window after the midfielder failed to nail down a regular place in the starting XI under Antonio Conte. The Spain international has made just one Premier League start this season, which was during the 3-0 loss against Arsenal and was substituted after 55 minutes for his lack of impact.

The Italian manager has switched to a 3-4-3 formation since the loss to the Gunners, and as Nemanja Matic and N'Golo Kante have formed a strong partnership at the heart of midfield; it is unlikely Fabregas will get regular game time. The Spaniard is currently injured and has fallen down the pecking order during his time on the sidelines.

According to The Times, Fabregas could be allowed to leave on loan in January with Chelsea keen to get his £160,000-a-week wages off their books. They are willing to subsidise his wages, which will see them pay a small proportion of it in order for him to complete a temporary switch away from the club. Conte is reportedly keen to add another imposing figure in midfield as he believes the former Barcelona and Arsenal midfielder does not have the physicality needed to play in midfield in his preferred 3-4-3 formation.

The report also claims that the midfielder was close to joining AC Milan in August earlier this year, but a move broke down after a disagreement between the two clubs over the proportion of the midfielder's wages Chelsea would pay. Serie A giants Milan and Juventus are said to be keen to take the midfielder to Italy, but it is unclear if he will uproot his family from London and move midway through the season.

Conte has praised Fabregas' attitude despite not getting regular game time and with Chelsea's lack of involvement in Europe and their elimination from the EFL Cup, there are no midweek games which will need the manager to rotate his team to give fringe players an opportunity. This prompted Fabregas to seek a move away from Stamford Bridge, but is unlikely to be allowed to remain in the Premier League, as it will mean strengthening a direct rival.