Cesc Fabregas was an unused substitute in Chelsea’s opening Premier League game of the season against West Ham, and manager Antonio Conte’s decision to drop the player from last season’s starting eleven has triggered a lot of speculation about the Spaniard’s future at Stamford Bridge.
The former Arsenal and Barcelona playmaker’s role appears uncertain under his new boss, and should the situation become so uncomfortable that Fabregas is forced into leaving the club in search of regular game time, it is unlikely he would be short of options.
Juventus are among those looking at the 29-year-old following Paul Pogba’s departure to Man United, and it seems that Cesc would certainly fit the bill in Turin by creating chances like Pogba should a bid come in.
Zinedine Zidane and Real Madrid are also reportedly in the hunt, but the number of midfielders already in the Real squad is likely to be a deal-breaker if an approach is made given that Fabregas would be moving in search of guaranteed selection.
There’s plenty of reasons why top teams should consider signing Fabregas but his ability to create goals out of nothing dominates all others. Always looking for a pass rather than to score himself, the Spaniard has been a key player in any team he played for thus far in his career, including Chelsea whom he joined in 2014 for £30 million from Barcelona.
Let’s remind ourselves of his first season with the Blues where Fabregas scored three goals and had an incredible 18 assists to his name; a tally that made him one of the most deserving players of Chelsea’s title winning campaign. Cesc created 93 chances with 85% pass accuracy and averaged 2.8 key passes and 1.7 successful crosses per match.
Despite a below-par last campaign in a year that saw all of Chelsea’s squad seriously under-perform, Fabregas remains up there as one of the best midfielders in the Premier League. Conte’s decision to leave his number four out of his first team is entirely preferential because of the Spaniard’s playing style, and in a formation more suited to a creative playmaker, Fabregas is likely to be the first name on the team-sheet.
With lots of experience at just 29, Fabregas certainly has more virtues than flaws. However, Antonio Conte may opt to strengthen his team and commit to an approach that requires three midfield engines by the end of the August, in which case Cesc may well be on the move this summer.
Still, the player himself has reiterated his desire to stay and fight for the starting place, and given his ability to provide Chelsea with another dimension; it’s entirely possible that the Italian tactician may decide to keep Fabregas right where he is. An exciting week and a half of the transfer window remains.
