According to a recent report from The London Evening Standard, Cesc Fabregas’ January move may have hit a snag. The midfielder currently plays his football at Premier League giants Chelsea and has done so since leaving Barcelona back in 2014, although a lack of regular game time under new Blues boss Maurizio Sarri this season has plunged his future at the club into huge doubt.
And reports recently have suggested that Thierry Henry’s Monaco are eyeing up a move for the 31-year-old this month, only for fresh reports to outline that the two clubs haven’t yet agreed a fee for the Spain international – thus, the door remains open for Everton and manager Marco Silva to try and keep the £22.5 million-rated ace (as per Transfermarkt) in the Premier League.
The Breakdown
Ultimately, while the Toffees can look back on a relatively solid first half of the season under the guidance of new manager Silva, things haven’t quite been as impressive in recent times given his team have won just one of their last eight Premier League matches.
And with a relatively unconvincing FA Cup victory over League Two outfit Lincoln City on Saturday, it’s clear that 41-year-old Silva still has much work to carry out at Goodison Park in a bid to take the club forward and towards the European places.
And the central midfield ranks are one area of the squad in need of strengthening if Silva is to do just that, as although Idrissa Gueye and Andre Gomes appear to be the main men in that area of the pitch, the latter is only on loan from Barcelona until the end of the season – add in the struggles Morgan Schneiderlin and Tom Davies have had this term, and they are hardly the ideal deputies.
As such, Silva may well be seeking to bolster his midfield ranks in this month’s transfer window, and while a deal between Chelsea and Monaco for Fabregas does seem close to completion, the fact the two can’t agree on a fee suggests that the opportunity is still there for Everton to strike their own deal for the talented Spaniard.
Ultimately, the 31-year-old has proven to be one of the most effective midfielders in the Premier League during his separate spells at Arsenal and Chelsea, with the Spain international netting 50 goals and laying on a staggering 114 assists in 350 appearances in the English top-flight, equating to a direct contribution every 161 minutes of action.
And with two Premier League titles as well as success in both the FA Cup and League Cup during his time in England, it’s clear that Fabregas has had a major impact on the English game over the years, yet with nine assists in all competitions last time round, it’s evident that he still possesses genuine quality in that midfield area.
And having played in a more central midfield position during his time at Chelsea, as opposed to the more attacking role he took up at Arsenal and Barcelona, he appears to be exactly what Everton need in the middle of the park – alongside the more combative Gueye, the two would possess everything needed to succeed in the Premier League.
Yes, it may be a tall order to convince Fabregas against a move to Monaco, but with no fee yet agreed between the French side and Chelsea, the door remains open for Everton to strike an agreement to keep the 31-year-old in the Premier League.
Everton fans… what do you think? Let us know!
