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AC Milan prepared to bid for Cesc Fabregas

Italian giants AC Milan are reported to be eyeing a winter deal for unsettled Chelsea midfielder Cesc Fabregas. The Spain international has been warming the substitutes’ bench since Antonio Conte took over the reigns this summer.

Fabregas, 29, joined the Blues from Spanish champions Barcelona in 2014, and played an influential role in their Premier League success under former boss Jose Mourinho.

However, in the season which followed, he had a drastic dip in form alongside Eden Hazard, and this eventually cost Mourinho his job midway through the campaign, whilst the Blues finished a lowly 10th in the league, their worst showing under the Roman Abramovich era.

With Conte being appointed over the summer, the former Arsenal man has struggled to cement a regular role with the first-team due to the lack of robustness to his game.

Fabregas had attracted interest from a whole host of clubs including Juventus and AC Milan this summer, but he opted to stay put for the year in the hope of fighting for his place at Stamford Bridge.

Italian source Gazzetta dello Sport says the Rossoneri will step up their pursuit for the Spaniard over the winter period with the new Chinese owners willing to spend big on fresh signings.

Real Madrid’s Matteo Kovacic is another player on Milan’s radar as they look to do the necessary strengthening in the January transfer window.

Fabregas for now remains a regular on the bench with summer signing N’Golo Kanté featuring in the deep midfield role whilst Nemanja Matic and Oscar operate just ahead of the Frenchman.