Cesc Fabregas tells Liverpool to sign three Monaco teammates he's helped develop

Cesc Fabregas says he hopes to have helped three of his Monaco teammates towards a transfer to a club like Liverpool after three-and-a-half years in the principality.

The former Arsenal, Barcelona and Chelsea star will leave the Ligue 1 club after the final game of the season this weekend.

Fabregas, 35, has suffered an injury plagued campaign and hasn't featured since a Europa League victory over Sturm Graz in September, one of only five appearances he's made this season.

He has so far stopped short of announcing his retirement though, and has instead been reflecting on his time at a club who were struggling under the stewardship of his former Arsenal teammate Thierry Henry when he joined from Chelsea in January 2019.

"At the time, I signed with one objective: to save the team, then 19th with 13 points. I took a big risk because relegation was possible," Fabregas told RMC Sport, before going on to reflect on the young players he's helped nurture.

"When I came, Thierry and Vadim (Vasilyev, the club's former vice president) also asked me to help grow the young people. It was an important point.

"Today, I feel like I have won the respect and sympathy of this younger generation.

"I hope I have helped. We like each other and I will continue to follow them, exchange with them. I would like to see (Youssouf) Fofana, (Sofiane) Diop or (Aurelien) Tchouameni at Bayern or Liverpool!"

Of that trio, France international midfielder Tchouameni has been most closely linked with the Reds, with reports of Liverpool's interest in the 22-year-old growing in recent weeks.

The central midfielder already has eight caps for France, and is said to be on the radar of several of Europe's top clubs.

Manchester United midfielder Paul Pogba has repeatedly stated how much of a fan he is of the youngster, recently claiming that he is: "Very, very good. He's not a boy, he's a man.

"It's a pleasure to play next to him. He brings a lot of energy. A lot of energy, extraordinary technical and physical quality.

'We wish him to play a lot more games and that I am always by his side.'

Fofana and Diop are perhaps less well-known as players, although both have had impressive campaigns this term.

Combative midfielder Fofana, 23, has featured in 41 Monaco games in all competitions, while the more attack-minded Diop has scored eight goals from his 41 appearances.