Chelsea begin negotiations with Cesc Fabregas

Chelsea have opened negotiations over signing Barcelona midfielder Cesc Fabregas.Barcelona are willing to let him leave for £30 million and Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho has confirmed his interest in the former Arsenal captain.Fabregas is with the Spain World Cup squad in Washington, where they face El Salvador on Saturday before travelling on to Brazil on Sunday.The 27-year-old would ideally like to have his future sorted out before Spain kick-off their World Cup campaign against Holland on June 13.Fernando Torres believes his Spain team-mate Fabregas is what Chelsea need and backed him to become a “leader” at Stamford Bridge.Related Articles“Would Cesc be a great signing? Great players are always great signings,” said Torres. “He’s a type of player Chelsea don’t have now.“Cesc knows the Premier League, he can add football, possession, goals if he feels important. He can be a leader, like he was at Arsenal.”Arsenal have indicated that they are not planning to take up their option to re-sign 27-year-old Fabregas, although a firm bid from Chelsea will force the Emirates club to reiterate their stance.Mourinho’s initial top midfield target to replace Frank Lampard, who confirmed he is leaving Chelsea this week, was Atlético Madrid star Koke.But Barcelona are also interested in signing Koke and Fabregas represents a relatively easy deal for Chelsea to complete.Asked about Fabregas, Mourinho said: “We have some interest. I have interest in analysing the situation. I think it looks like he’s really interested in leaving Barcelona, and is very, very interested in coming back to England. This I think is clear.“After that it’s not something for us, or another team, for now. It’s not for now, or tomorrow, or for before the World Cup. There is a process where he wants to leave, he wants to come to England because it’s the country where he wants to be, where he prefers to play. We are interested in monitoring the situation.”Chelsea are due to announce the £32 million signing of another Spain team-mate of Fabregas, striker Diego Costa who has now completed his Blues medical.John Terry has visited Chelsea’s Cobham training ground this week to do extra work during his summer off. The Blues captain signed a one-year contract extension and wants to return for next season in top condition. Goalkeeper Petr Cech has also been visiting Cobham on his own as part of the rehabilitation from his dislocated shoulder. (telegraph.co.uk)Bakudaily.az