3 replacements for the wantaway Dimitri Payet at West Ham

Cesc Fabregas

18 assists in the 2014/15 season, as well as five goals and seven assists in last year’s campaign, yet Cesc Fabregas is not a certain and regular starter for Premier League leaders Chelsea at present.

That’s because Antonio Conte has mainly stuck with a midfield partnership of N’Golo Kante and Nemanja Matic this season and, although Fabregas has appeared more regularly in recent weeks, he’s still not one of the first names on the teamsheet.

This uncertainty, as well possible incomings at Stamford Bridge this month, could tempt Fabregas to move elsewhere, and one club that would certainly need his creativity is West Ham.

Although he wouldn’t be a like-for-like replacement for Payet, the Spanish international would be able to contribute the goals and assists that Payet did last season, as well as providing the West Ham midfield with more solidity and guile.

If they can get a deal done for the 29-year-old, it would be a huge scalp for the Hammers.