Chelsea Transfer News: Cesc Fabregas Reportedly Wanted to Launch New Milan Era

AC Milan are reportedly keen to make Chelsea playmaker Cesc Fabregas their marquee summer signing as they seek to launch an exciting new era at the San Siro.

According to Corriere dello Sport (h/t Jack Rathborn of ESPN FC), the club's potential new owners, Sino Europe Sports, want to make a big impression in the upcoming window and will make their play for the Spain international.

Fabregas has found it difficult to nail down a regular starting spot at Stamford Bridge so far this season under Antonio Conte, and according to the report, he would become a regular at Milan as the club looks to retake its place in the UEFA Champions League.

Although the former Barcelona midfielder has been behind Nemanja Matic and N'Golo Kante in the pecking order for much of this term, he's been an important player for Chelsea.

Per Squawka Football, he's made some massive contributions on home soil:

Aside from crucial goals, Fabregas has rediscovered some excellent form in general play this term, having struggled to capture his best in the 2015-16 season.

While he would have been frustrated to have been on the bench so often, the 29-year-old has frequently been introduced into frantic contests with a task of settling things down for the Blues. In the main he's done so, helping Chelsea build up a seven-point lead at the top of the Premier League table.

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Conte, naturally, would be delighted to keep a player of such class and intelligence in his squad, especially with European football on the agenda again next season. But it'd be no surprise if Fabregas did push for a move in search of regular starts.

However, as noted by BBC Sport's Luke Reddy earlier in the campaign, the midfielder looks to be rising to the challenge of playing at the hub of an intense Conte team:

Despite their recent struggles in Serie A, Milan still possess an allure. And while they have some wonderful young players on their books in Gianluigi Donnarumma, Alessio Romagnoli and Manuel Locatelli, if they are to move up the Italian top flight, more quality and more experience is needed.

Fabregas would provide that. Although he may lack the dynamism he showcased frequently for Arsenal and Barcelona, the midfielder remains a canny operator and a brilliant technician. In a division that's less intense but more tactical than the Premier League, it'd be easy to see him thriving.

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