Chelsea Transfer News: Latest Rumours Linked to Blues Before January 2017 Window

West Ham United are reportedly hoping to offer Chelsea midfielder Cesc Fabregas a route out of Stamford Bridge after he has fallen down the Blues pecking order. Meanwhile, the west Londoners have been quoted £50 million if they want to sign Stefan de Vrij.

Fabregas' place in the Chelsea XI has not been assured since Antonio Conte assumed the manager position in west London, but the Sunday People's Neil Moxley revealed the Hammers will hand him an alternative destination in the capital.

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The Spain international has started in three of his six appearances under Conte this season, the most recent of which was Saturday's 3-0 demolition at the hands of former club Arsenal.

Goal's Nizaar Kinsella couldn't help but identify the impact that result might have had on Fabregas' nerves as the playmaker attempts to rediscover the form that helped lead Chelsea to the 2014-15 Premier League title:

West Ham have shown a lot more hunger in the transfer market in recent years and are looking to land bigger signings following this year's move to the 60,000-seat London Stadium.

There may be hope for Fabregas at Stamford Bridge yet, however, particularly after he played a starring role in Chelsea's 4-2 extra-time victory over Leicester City in the third round of the EFL Cup, per Sky Sports Statto:

That being said, it's difficult to ignore the fact Conte kept the Spaniard benched for the first five games of the season, and the 29-year-old—contracted at the club until 2019—may no longer be a crucial part of his plans.

Fabregas recently told Spanish radio station Cadena COPE (h/t Goal) he had no intention of leaving the Blues, however, following a busy summer of transfer rumours and speculation over his Chelsea future:

"

I have never thought of leaving Chelsea. Madrid? There might have been calls, there might not have, but I am not thinking of leaving. The rumours over whether I am going or offering myself out tire me. Let them come out every [time]... apparently I want to go to 20 different teams. 

I am just one player. I will keep competing here. If I knew I wasn't good enough to play in this team, I would have moved away but I am very happy here. Not playing hurts but I know I am good enough for this team and I will give everything to play.

"

Elsewhere, Moxley also reported Lazio have slapped a £50 million price tag on star centre-back De Vrij in their bid to ward off Chelsea's interest in the defender ahead of the January transfer window.

Conte spent his summer reportedly chasing Serie A defender Kalidou Koulibaly, but Bleacher Report's Adam Digby has previously tipped De Vrij as another top asset:

Chelsea ended up bringing David Luiz back to the club from Paris Saint-Germain, but John Terry's expected departure at the end of this season means more reinforcements may still be required.

De Vrij, 24, moved to Rome from Feyenoord in 2014 and has since established himself as one of the Italian top flight's most consistent back-line forces, but Chelsea may find his transfer value too steep to contend with.