Mourinho hoped to be reunited with Fàbregas at Old Trafford

Chelsea are ready to offer Cesc Fàbregas a new contract amid renewed interest in their midfielder from Manchester United.

The Spain player has 18 months left on his deal at Stamford Bridge and the club want him to sign an extension, although the length of the proposed new contract has yet to be agreed. Fàbregas would like to sign for a further two years, but Chelsea’s general policy is to offer only one-year extensions to players aged over 30, so he may have to settle for a shorter deal. Gary Cahill signed a four-year contract just weeks before his 30th birthday in December 2015 however, suggesting that the club are willing to be flexible on occasions.

Chelsea’s other contractual priority is to extend Eden Hazard’s existing deal DANIEL LEAL-OLIVAS/AFP/GETTY IMAGES

Fàbregas appeared to have little future at Chelsea when