Chelsea Transfer News: Latest Rumours, Fresh Blues Talk Ahead of Winter Window

AC Milan will reportedly test Chelsea's resolve to keep Cesc Fabregas by making a bid for the Spanish playmaker in the January transfer window. Reports in Italy state the Rossoneri will come back after being rebuffed by Blues manager Antonio Conte in the summer.

Italian publication Corriere dello Sport (h/t Goal's Matthew Judge) has revealed Milan plan to make their move for the schemer who has made just three Premier League appearances so far this season.

Interest in Fabregas from Serie A seems to be growing daily. Recently, Alvise Cagnazzo of the Sun reported Italian giants Juventus want the former Barcelona man as part of any deal Chelsea might strike for ball-playing centre-back Leonardo Bonucci.

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It's understandable some of Europe's grandest clubs would seek to capitalise on Fabregas seeming to fall out of favour at Stamford Bridge.

Even at 29, Fabregas has lost none of the creative verve that makes him a master at unlocking defences. His superb through pass to release Diego Costa to score a winner at Watford earlier this season showed the instant, match-winning magic he can still muster.

His vision and technical mastery are qualities a team rather pedestrian going forward needs. Yet the ex-Arsenal man doesn't seem to fit Conte's plans, despite the manager claiming he's still very much in his thoughts for the season, per Dominic Fifield of the Guardian.

Some of Conte's other words on the subject have been rather more telling, though, such as these explaining his decision to favour Brazilian Oscar, per Fifield:

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I always thought that this team needed to find a good balance when you have the ball and, above all, when you don’t have the ball. Last season Chelsea conceded 53 goals. Now, we have found the right compromise between defensive and offensive situations. Oscar is a good player, great technique and can do both facets: both offensive and defensive. I asked him to stay always focused on the game, to stay in the game. He’s an important player for Chelsea.

"

While many would rightly contend Fabregas is a wasted player off the ball, prioritising that side of the game over what he does on it speaks volumes about Chelsea's approach under Conte. It's going to be a pragmatic one.

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While that may work wonders for a suspect defence, it could waste the quality attackers Conte's squad is brimming with. Forwards such as Costa, Pedro and Willian, along with winger Eden Hazard, need Fabregas' vision and range of passing to really thrive.

Barcelona Want £20 Million-Rated Chelsea Loanee

The Chelsea defence has been shaky most of this season. It probably doesn't help when centre-backs rated at £20 million by Barcelona are out on loan.

According to Alan Nixon of the Sun on Sunday, Barca are ready to spend big on Danish defender Andreas Christensen, who is plying his trade with Bundesliga side Borussia Monchengladbach.

Christensen is said to have caught the eye against Barca in this season's UEFA Champions League. The report also indicated the Camp Nou club view the 20-year-old as a natural successor to Gerard Pique, a talisman at the back for years.

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Nixon also noted how Conte's preference to add experienced defenders could limit the Dane's chances of eventually getting first-team opportunities at Stamford Bridge.

Christensen addressed his Chelsea future last month, sounding a little uncertain, per German publication Bild (h/t the Sun's Anthony Chapman): “For me, both things are possible (staying or leaving). I don’t want to be distracted, and I can’t decide alone. The question is if the clubs can agree a fee.”

Yet Chelsea should be wary about parting ways with talented youth players who aren't given a chance in west London. It happened with Everton striker Romelu Lukaku and Manchester City attacking midfielder Kevin De Bruyne, two players the Blues would surely love to have back.

However, Chelsea do appear content to look outside to solve their defensive woes. Conte splashed the cash to bring David Luiz back from Paris Saint-Germain this summer, while Burnley's Michael Keane remains a £25 million target, per David McDonnell of the Daily Mirror.

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In this context, £20 million may be too rich an offer to resist for Christensen, who has been denied enough opportunities to make the grade with his parent club. It's a feeling Fabregas also knows, although Chelsea should reconsider leaving their classy pass-master on the outside looking in much longer.