Cesc Fabregas wants to play more attacking role for Chelsea as he warns over future

Fabregas will be free to discuss a pre-contract agreement with other clubs from 1 January, with AC Milan among those linked to a move

A frustrated Cesc Fabregas wants to play a more attacking role in the Chelsea team, and has warned he will “attract many clubs” in January if his future at Stamford Bridge remains unresolved.

So far this season Fabregas has played understudy to Jorginho, the Italian Maurizio Sarri brought with him from Napoli to play at the base of midfield, and he stepped in again on Thursday night to pull the strings in a 4-0 Europa League victory over PAOK.

But the 31-year-old, whose contract runs out at the end of the season, says he is still learning what is a new position for him, and believes he has more to offer in other areas of the pitch – but that his manager “doesn’t see it”.

“I know that he [Sarri] rates me highly,” Fabregas said after the game. “But at the same time it’s a new position for me. I think this was my fifth game starting in this position and I have never played that before – only when I was 10, 12, in the academy at Barcelona.

“At the same time … I think I can give more in other positions as well. At the moment maybe he still doesn’t see it. We had a chat about it, and maybe in the future it will start to happen but at the moment this is what it is. I just have to take it.”

Cesc Fabregas holds off a PAOK marker (EPA)

Fabregas will be free to discuss a pre-contract agreement with other clubs from 1 January, with AC Milan among those linked to a move, and has yet to be offered a new deal at Stamford Bridge.

“At the moment I haven’t spoken to anyone,” he said. “Obviously from January I can sign with whoever I want and probably this will attract many clubs but so far, from what I can say right now, I will stay here until the end of the season.”

Fabregas said he will get opportunities in the Premier League over the busy festive period, and has already been told by Sarri which games he will play.

“I will play in the Premier League now, this month I will play games. I kind of know which games I will play, so I’m ready for it. I speak with the coach, he’s been straightforward with me, so I need to be ready for when the opportunity comes.”