AC Milan sporting director Leonardo has confirmed that the Serie A outfit have been in contact with Chelsea over a possible deal for Cesc Fabregas.

Fabregas will be out of contract at Stamford Bridge next summer, meaning that he is free to begin talks with overseas clubs in January should an extension not be agreed before that.

Chelsea manager Maurizio Sarri is understood to want to keep the 31-year-old at Chelsea, despite him making only one Premier League start so far this season.

However, Leonardo has confirmed that Milan might be interested in the Spaniard, should they find a way to overcome problems with the Financial Fair Play rules.

"We evaluated it, considering the possibility, but didn't go all in. We are still evaluating the conditions," he is quoted as saying by the Evening Standard.

"There could be an economic sanction, we'll see what happens. We do have a very negative balance sheet. We'll certainly do something on the market, but we'll take it slowly.

"Unfortunately, with the Financial Fair Play issue it has become a puzzle and a difficult one to work out. We need to wait and understand what we can actually do. The owners want to invest, but there are parameters to be respected."

Fabregas is currently on a deal worth around £160,000 per week at Stamford Bridge.