Cesc Fabregas leaves Prem with assists record… but two stars could catch Chelsea legend
The Spanish maestro, who is linked with a move to Monaco, could play his last game for Chelsea on Saturday
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CESC FABREGAS looks set to leave Chelsea in the coming days, having apparently bid farewell to fans in the 0-0 draw with Southampton.
And the Spanish maestro will leave English football having made a massive mark on the Premier League - where he holds a number of impressive records.
Most assists all-time in the Premier League
1) Ryan Giggs - 162
2) Cesc Fabregas - 111
3) Wayne Rooney - 103
4) Frank Lampard - 102
5) Dennis Bergkamp - 94
6) Steven Gerrard - 92
=7) David Beckham - 80
=7) James Milner - 80
9) David Silva - 77
10) Teddy Sheringham - 76
The pass master, 31, has been linked with a move to Monaco where he will reunite with former Arsenal team-mate Thierry Henry.
The midfielder, who spent eight years at Arsenal before moving to Barcelona, returned to Chelsea in 2014.
And in his time for the Gunners and Blues, Fabregas has proved himself to be a vital player and creator of goals.
Fabregas is arguably the best Spaniard to ever play in the Premier League.
He has made the most appearances (350) of any player from Spain and has the second-most assists in Premier League history.
His 111 assists trail are the most of any non-UK player and only Ryan Giggs tops him, with 162 assists.
The 13-time Premier League winner did play in 282 more matches, however.
Fabregas has also completed the most passes for any non-UK player in the Premier League (19,187), trailing only Gareth Barry (20,616).
However, with Fabregas now looking at a Premier League exit, two active players could top Fabregas in the assist charts.
The first is former Spanish team-mate David Silva - who was called a "handsome pony" by Fabregas on social media on Wednesday night.
The Man City star, who won the 2010 World Cup, Euro 2008 and Euro 2012 alongside Fabregas, has 77 assists so far in his Premier League career.
Silva, 32, is also second on the list of most appearances by a Spaniard with 265.
Liverpool star James Milner is currently joint-seventh on the assist charts, level with David Beckham, with 80 assists in 501 appearances.
Both Milner and Silva could top Fabregas into second overall if they continue providing goals into their mid-30s.
One record Silva is unlikely to take, however, is Fabregas' Guinness World Record (it's impossible for Milner).
The Chelsea No 4 is in the record books for recording the 'Fastest time to achieve 100 assists in the Premier League' - which he managed in just 293 matches.
That was 74 matches quicker than Giggs, who is second on the list.
After receiving the reward in October, Fabregas said: "I'm not the fastest, I'm not the strongest, I'm not the most flexible, I don’t jump high.
"But to achieve this record in my career is one of the proudest things in my job, because it is my job and I did it well."
Fabregas, who provided the assist for Andres Iniesta when Spain won the World Cup, also has a second Guinness World Record - picked up after completing a volley challenge with Jamie Redknapp on A League of their Own.
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Those awards will take pride of place in a trophy cabinet that also includes two Premier League titles, two FA Cups and the League Cup in England.
Fabregas also won La Liga,the Copa del Rey and the Club World Cup with Barcelona.