According to The Sun, Roma want to sign Cesc Fabregas in January and are open to a swap deal. The club have been monitoring the Spanish playmaker's situation this season at Chelsea and are willing to part with Antonio Rudiger or Radja Nainggolan to get the deal done in their favour.
The Sun reports that Roma is interested in signing the player on a 6-month loan which would be followed up by a permanent move if he proves to be an impressive performer.
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Both Rudiger and Nainggolan had been previously linked to Chelsea in the transfer window, however, there were no substantial developments. Rudiger plays as a centre-half for Roma, whereas Nainggolan is a central midfielder known for his work rate and defensive abilities. Both players were long on Conte’s transfer shortlist, however the London club were unable to finalise a deal.
Fabregas has not been able to cement a place for himself in the starting 11 and continues to be a substitute at best. The Spaniard has struggled to get a seat on Conte’s team and has had a frustrating time this season. Ever since Conte’s arrival, Fabregas has been handed a start in only 2 of the 15 matches that Chelsea have played this season in the Premier League.
Despite inspiring performances off the bench, the playmaker does not look like a confirmed starter at the moment. Surely, if the situation does not improve, Fabregas will have to look for another club if he wants first team opportunities, which Chelsea have clearly not been able to provide him with.
Antonio Conte has openly come out in support of the Spaniard and was quick to assert that the player’s skillset and importance cannot be neglected at all. The Italian's comments came after the match against West Brom, where Fabregas was brought on as a substitute. The player immediately made a mark and provided the assist for Diego Costa’s winner, which was also the only goal in the game.
Ever since reports came out that Fabregas and Chelsea are both looking at moving on, several clubs have been linked to the former Arsenal man. These include Roma, West Ham, his former club Arsenal and even AC Milan, who are apparently looking for a replacement for central midfielder Ricardo Montolivo.
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It all comes down to Antonio Conte who will have to decide whether the Spaniard is a dispensable part of the squad and whether the deal offered would be enticing enough to sell a player who was instrumental in its success in the 2014-15 title winning season.
