Chelsea Transfer News: Latest on Cesc Fabregas and Isco Rumours

Cesc Fabregas' future at Chelsea reportedly remains in doubt, with Blues boss Antonio Conte said to be keen to add to his options in midfield.

That's according to Spanish outlet El Confidencial (h/t Sport Witness' Dipesh Agarwal), which suggested there will be some developments on Fabregas' position soon. A new midfielder joining the club would make minutes even tougher to come by for the Spain international, who has played a meagre 12 minutes of football in the Premier League under Conte.

However, Fabregas spoke about recent rumours on Twitter:

Fabregas' lack of action has dented his national-team chances, with new Spain manager Julen Lopetegui leaving him out of his first squad.

What may be more of a concern for the Blues playmaker is Chelsea are functioning well without him, having triumphed in all three of their league games.

As ESPN FC's Liam Twomey noted, when Fabregas featured in the EFL Cup against Bristol Rovers in midweek, he didn't shine:

The two years Fabregas has spent at Stamford Bridge have been polarising. In his debut term at the club, the former Arsenal and Barcelona man was the creative pulse behind the side's title win, while his second season saw standards drop alarmingly along with a clutch of other Blues stars.

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At the moment, Conte's ethos doesn't seem to marry well with Fabregas' skill set. The Italian demands positional discipline and intensity in all areas of the pitch; the Blues No. 4 requires freedom to be at his best, while his defensive work has always been ropey.

In the right setup, the 29-year-old could still be a major asset to an elite team. These numbers from OptaJoe are a testament to that:

Fabregas conjured a game-winning moment in his 12 minutes of league football this term, threading a marvellous pass through to Diego Costa, who netted the winner against Watford.

Conte may not be able to cater for the Catalan at this point, although there will likely be plenty of clubs keen to get a player of Fabregas' calibre on board.

Isco Linked with Tottenham Hotspur

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According to Steve Stammers of the Sunday Mirror, Tottenham Hotspur are set to launch an ambitious bid for Real Madrid's Isco, although they could face competition from Chelsea.

Stammers suggested the Blues may challenge their London rivals for the player, whom Spurs are said to be keen to take on loan with a view to a permanent deal. Isco is reportedly available after Real Madrid president Florentino Perez blocked an approach from Chelsea for James Rodriguez.

Isco hasn't been able to secure a starting spot at the Santiago Bernabeu Stadium on a regular basis despite plenty of eye-catching showings. Here's a look at what he offers at full tilt:

For the player, the prospect of playing in the Premier League may be appealing. After all, while he may not be needed every week for Real, at Spurs or Chelsea, Isco would immediately become a vital member of the starting XI.

These numbers from WhoScored.com prove the 24-year-old is adept at making an impression at the highest level, too:

Spurs are said to be the favourites to secure the midfielder at this point, per Stammers, and they would have UEFA Champions League football to offer. However, should it become clear that Isco is set to change clubs this summer, Chelsea would surely up their interest, especially if Fabregas were to depart.

Alongside the likes of Eden Hazard and Willian, Isco would bring more diversity to a stellar Blues attack. The Spain international is capable of lighting up the Premier League, and any club in the country—Chelsea included—should consider his acquisition a coup.