Chelsea manager Antonio Conte insists Cesc Fabregas is not for sale and remains part of his plans at the club.
Fabregas, 28, has dropped down the pecking at Stamford Bridge since Conte was made manager over the summer and is yet to start a league game this season.
AC Milan are among the teams reportedly interested in signing the Spain international in January, but Conte has dismissed claims he wants to sell the midfielder.
“Cesc is in my plans and in Chelsea’s plans. We all know Cesc is a fantastic player,” The Daily Mirror quote Conte as saying.
“I see him in every training session with great work rate. If he continues in this way, it’ll be very difficult for me to choose my midfield. But I want this from a player, putting many doubts in my mind over choosing someone else.
“Cesc is a great player. We all know Cesc, a great technical player. Now I’m starting to get to know him as a man. A great personality.”
Since August 2014 no player has registered more assists in the Premier League than Fabregas (26).
For more stats on Cesc Fabregas, click here to visit his WhoScored player page