Fàbregas close to terminating Chelsea contract as ‘new project’ beckons — report

The January transfer window opens in just a few days, and for Cesc Fàbregas that could signal the end of his Chelsea career — a career that has looked to be ending for most of the season thus far.

While Sarri says he needs Cesc to back up Jorginho (and not just this season), Cesc himself could have other plans and Chelsea have shown little indication that they would stand in his way (let alone offer a new contract) should he decide to leave six months before the actual end of his current contract. He could do so either on loan or on a permanent basic (for a transfer fee), or he could agree to a mutual termination of his contract with the club, an arrangement that we had afforded others in past, too, such as Branislav Ivanović, and have reportedly offered to Gary Cahill as well.

According to Marca, all that amounts to Fàbregas nearing the final few hours of his time as a Chelsea player, with negotiations about a “definitive disengagement” well underway and the 31-year-old having his eye on a “new and European project”. AS Monaco and AC Milan have been the most frequently linked, with the former managed by former Arsenal teammate Thierry Henry, even.

If Fàbregas is one foot out the door already, it certainly puts Hazard making it a point to celebrate Wednesday’s first goal with him in a much sharper light. Hmmm...

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