Cesc Fabregas to make final Chelsea appearance against Nottingham Forest
Saturday 5 January 2019 15:11, UK
Cesc Fabregas is set to make his final appearance for Chelsea against Nottingham Forest, according to Sky sources.
The 31-year-old is out of contract at the end of the season and Sky sources understand Chelsea and Monaco are close to agreeing a deal for the midfielder to move to Ligue 1 in January.
Fabregas is expected make his final appearance for the Blues on Saturday when Forest visit Stamford Bridge in the third round of the FA Cup.
Fabregas has struggled for first-team opportunities this season and has played just six times in the Premier League under head coach Maurizio Sarri.
However, the Italian has expressed a desire for Fabregas to remain at Stamford Bridge.
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"In this position we have only two players, Jorginho and Fabregas, so for me it would be really a problem without Cesc," Sarri said.
"I want him to stay, I don't know the final decision of Cesc and the club of course.
"But for me it's very important and if Cesc will go I think that we need to buy another player, and it's not easy because, technically, Cesc is a very important player.
"And I think that in the market it's very difficult to find a player with his characteristics."
Chelsea assistant manager Gianfranco Zola also hinted Gary Cahill could be making a farewell appearance for the club on Saturday, with a move to Fulham being mooted for the centre-back.
Asked how much of a loss Cahill would be should he leave, Zola said: "Gary has been outstanding. I never worked with him, but I knew from outside everybody rated him very highly as a professional, as a person within the changing room.
"There is this possibility. There is no doubt he is going to be a big loss for us. But I think it could be a good move for him, his contract expires in six months and he has to look after himself.
"For what I have come to know about him, I really wish he will do extremely well."