Chelsea will reportedly not let Cesc Fabregas leave the club until they have signed a central midfielder to replace him at Stamford Bridge.
Fabregas is understood to have agreed terms over a move to Monaco, where he will be reunited with former Arsenal teammate Thierry Henry, who is the current manager at the Parc des Princes.
The Spaniard's contract at Chelsea is due to expire at the end of this season, but Monaco will reportedly pay €10m (£9m) in order to secure his services this month.
AC Milan were also interested in Fabregas, while Chelsea had offered him an 18-month contract extension, but Monaco have now won the race for his signature.
However, Calciomercato reports that the Ligue 1 outfit may have to wait a little longer to complete the deal as Chelsea search for a replacement for the 31-year-old.
Fabregas, who is set to sign a five-year contract at Monaco, has made 197 appearances for Chelsea across all competitions since joining them in 2014.
Barney Corkhill
