Manchester United are reportedly weighing up a potential move for Chelsea midfielder Cesc Fabregas, according to The Times.
Antonio Conte was unhappy with the Chelsea board after Jose Mourinho managed to complete the £35m signing of Nemanja Matic from his former club.
The Serbian defensive midfielder has excelled in the early stages of the 2017/18 campaign and Manchester United currently find themselves four points above Conte's side.
Manchester United's club-record signing Paul Pogba has been sidelined with a long-term hamstring injury since the beginning of September and the Red Devils have certainly lacked a creative spark in midfield.
They've only managed two goals in their last three Premier League outings and the media are keen to link United with some options in the transfer market.
Mesut Ozil, who played under Mourinho at Real Madrid, has only a matter of months left on his contract at Arsenal and the German playmaker has been heavily linked with a reunion with his former manager.
According to The Times, Mourinho is looking at Chelsea midfielder Cesc Fabregas an an alternative to Ozil.
United have been monitoring Fàbregas’s situation at Chelsea since the Portuguese coach took the reins at Old Trafford last summer.
He was only a bit-part player in last season's title-winning campaign but has started in 8 of Chelsea's ten Premier League fixtures this season.
How Chelsea will react to United's interest
According to The Times, Chelsea will offer Fabregas a contract extension to deter interest from their domestic rivals.
He has 18 months left on his current deal at Stamford Bridge and his Italian boss is reportedly urging the club to extend his contract.
The former Arsenal and Barcelona star is now in his fourth season in west London and would surely welcome the offer of a new contract from his employers.
"I have found absolute happiness at Chelsea," Fabregas told Vanity Fair earlier in October. "The family is delighted, totally adapted to life in London and the fans love me.
"I am too happy to change clubs. I just miss my family and my friends in Barcelona."