Cesc Fàbregas wants an Espanyol star at Como | OneFootball

Spanish football icon Cesc Fàbregas is eager to bring a member of the defensive ranks at Espanyol to Italy in the near future.

That’s according to Mundo Deportivo, citing Diario AS, who highlight Omar El Hilali as the player in question.

Defender El Hilali has for his part enjoyed a fine campaign to date.

From his role at right-back, the youngster, in fact, stands as the only member of Manolo González’s squad to have featured from the off in each and every one of Espanyol’s La Liga fixtures this season.

With such excellence, though, comes inevitable outside interest.

Recent weeks have seen El Hilali named as a transfer target on the part of all of Brighton & Hove Albion, Aston Villa, and even Manchester City.

And, if the latest word doing the rounds in Spain on Thursday is anything to go by, then another club from outside of Spain are keeping a close eye on the situation of the 21-year-old, too.

As per MD:

‘Omar El Hilali is being watched by Como. Emissaries of the Italian club, led from the bench by Cesc Fàbregas, watched him live during the recent Perico victory over Celta Vigo.’

It is worth noting ahead of the January transfer window that El Hilali’s Espanyol contract contains a release clause set at €15 million.

Conor Laird – GSFN