There is only one Premier League team, Chelsea FC, that has really been busy thus far in the early days of the January transfer window, but boy have they been productive. Chelsea got the first signing of the window done yesterday, acquiring Christian Pulisic from Borussia Dortmund, effective in the summer.
Now, according to ESPN, Cesc Fabregas is set for a move to AS Monaco. The Spaniard will now be reunited with one of his former teammates at Arsenal, current Monaco manager Thierry Henry. Fabregas has seemingly confirmed his Premier League exit on social media, saying he will play against Nottingham Forest in the FA Cup on Saturday, his 500th match in English football.
500 games in English football, the best and most competitive football in the world, what a ride it has been! A proper dream come true to reach these numbers. Another proud moment in my career. I will see you all at the Bridge on Saturday. @arsenal @chelseafc #cesc500 pic.twitter.com/LN2DSb9CIC
— Cesc Fàbregas Soler (@cesc4official) January 2, 2019
It is thought that this will be his final competition with a British club, as his contract with the Blues is set to expire at the end of the season. Monaco seems to be the perfect fit too, as Henry needs reinforcements in order to avoid the disaster that would ensue if his side gets relegated from Ligue 1.
Cesc Fabregas, 31, is still very much a quality player and Chelsea boss Maurizio Sarri wanted him to stay, but one can understand why the former Arsenal captain wanted out. Caught up in a numbers game in the Chelsea midfield, Fabregas, much like any other top competitive footballer, wants and needs major minutes.
Elsewhere, According to multiple outlets, Chelsea teenage forward Callum Hudson-Odoi is looking likelier and likelier to leave the west London side this January transfer window.
Sarri has said that Hudson-Odoi is not ready for the Premier League yet, and thus mot seeing major minutes with the Blues.
Like Fabregas, Hudson-Odoi is also caught up in a numbers game, and needs to try elsewhere in order to get more playing time.
Sky Germany claims that Bayern Munich has made three approaches for Hudson-Odoi since very late last month, and that the third time has finally been the charm.
The Guardian is going with that story too, confirming Bayern has seen a pair of bids already rejected. According to reports, the Hudson-Odoi hypothetical transfer fee would make him potentially the most expensive English teenager ever.
BREAKING: Sky sources: @FCBayern make third bid in excess of £30m for @ChelseaFC’s Callum Hudson-Odoi. #SSN pic.twitter.com/Ve6z3MPa22
— Sky Sports News (@SkySportsNews) January 3, 2019
Of course, there is still a ways to go yet in this transfer window, and this deal is far from closed so a lot can happen yet.
Paul M. Banks runs The Sports Bank.net, which is partnered with News Now. Banks, a former writer for NBC Chicago.com and Chicago Tribune.com, regularly appears as a guest pundit on WGN CLTV and co-hosts the “Let’s Get Weird, Sports” podcast on SB Nation.
He also contributes sociopolitical essays to Chicago Now. Follow him on Twitter and Instagram. The content of his cat’s Instagram account is unquestionably superior to his.