Chelsea Transfer News: Latest on Cesc Fabregas and Antoine Griezmann Rumours

Chelsea will reportedly sell Cesc Fabregas in the January transfer window as he has dropped behind N’Golo Kante, Nemanja Matic and Oscar in manager Antonio Conte's side.

According to Neil Fissler in the Sunday Express, the Italian boss believes Fabregas is "too lightweight" to excel in his high-intensity system and is ready to offload him, preferably not to another Premier League club.

Fissler added that AC Milan will likely move for the 29-year-old in January, as Fabregas is "top of their wanted list." Italian champions Juventus may rival any bid made by their Serie A rivals.

Real Madrid and AS Monaco were also reportedly eyeing the Spain international during the summer, per Bleacher Report's Dean Jones:

Fabregas was brilliant for Chelsea as they won the Premier League in 2014-15, but his form dropped off considerably last term.

In Chelsea's three Premier League matches so far this term, Conte has played Kante, Matic and Oscar as the central-midfield trio. Fabregas has been limited to only 12 minutes of action from the bench, per WhoScored.com.

The former Barcelona man is too good a player to merely play a covering role, and he would be a guaranteed starter with the likes of Milan and Monaco.

If Chelsea are planning to sell Fabregas in January, they are unlikely to struggle to find suitors. They could also demand a significant fee, as he still has three years left on his contract, having signed a five-year deal upon moving to the Blues from Barcelona in 2014.

Chelsea may need to sell the midfielder in order to raise funds to make a swoop for Atletico Madrid's Antoine Griezmann.

Gonzalo Arroyo Moreno/Getty Images

Per Fissler, Conte wants Chelsea chiefs to sanction a bid for the French striker that would exceed his £86 million release clause.

Fissler added that Chelsea would likely have to break the transfer world record, set by Manchester United in buying Paul Pogba for £89 million in the summer, in order to beat the Red Devils to Griezmann and that the Blues may also use Diego Costa to "sweeten the deal."

Atleti would be loath to let the 25-year-old go. He is their most important attacker and has netted 46 goals in 77 games in LaLiga since the start of the 2014-15 season, per WhoScored.com.

It may be completely academic for now anyway unless Atleti can successfully appeal their two-window FIFA-imposed transfer ban, as there is little chance Los Rojiblancos would sell Griezmann if they couldn't bring in a replacement.