Chelsea seemingly bid farewell to Cesc Fabregas in their latest FA Cup fixture with the Spaniard edging (according to the Daily Telegraph) closer to a move to Monaco.

The former Barcelona man has slipped down the pecking order following the arrival of Maurizio Sarri. With his contract set to expire in the summer, Fabregas is nearing an exit from the club, agreeing on a deal to link up with Thierry Henry in Monaco. Chelsea have apparently green-lighted the move but want to source a replacement before the transfer can be completed.

Despite having the likes of Ruben Loftus-Cheek at his disposal, reports suggest Sarri isn’t willing to allow Fabregas to depart without signing another midfielder. The Italian is believed (as per Sky Sports) to want Cagliari maestro, Nicola Barella, while Zenit St. Petersburg lynchpin, Leandro Paredes, remains another option. Instead, Sarri should turn his attention to the Bundesliga.

The ideal Fabregas replacement would be Hoffenheim playmaker – Kerem Demirbay. Valued at £18m by Transfermarkt, the midfielder has been ever-present for his side since joining back in 2016. The former Borussia Dortmund man has struggled with injuries in recent seasons but has finally put his troubles behind him and has been crucial to the Bundesliga side in the current campaign.

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The 25-year-old is a complete midfielder who would slot seamlessly into the Chelsea midfield trio. Demirbay is a box-to-box midfielder who excels both offensively and defensively. The Germany international loves to get stuck in, averaging an incredible 2.5 tackles per game this season, offering the back four a valuable layer of protection. Demirbay also contributes to the attack with his dribbling skills and range of passing, averaging a remarkable 3.3 key passes per game while completing 2.4 successful dribbles (WhoScored).

Approaching the prime of his career, there is no better time for Sarri to lure him to England.

Chelsea fans, thoughts?