Chelsea duo Cesc Fabregas and David Luiz reject club’s current contract terms despite Maurizio Sarri wanting them to stay

CESC FABREGAS and David Luiz are locked in a contract battle with Chelsea because they are unwilling to agree to the club's new terms.

Blues chiefs want to give the pair short-term deals to tie in with their policy for over-30s.

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But former World Cup winner Fabregas, 31, and Brazil star Luiz, 31, are intent on penning long-term agreements.

Both stars' contracts expire at the end of the season and they have been holding talks with Stamford Bridge bosses for the past month.

Manager Maurizio Sarri wants the pair to stay - especially with Fabregas being so strongly linked with a £10million move to AC Milan in January.

Chelsea are strict on their policy of only giving over-30s a one-year deal.

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Opening up on the difficulties with Fab - who recently showed off his abs - and Luiz, Sarri said: "The deal is very difficult for this reason, I think.

"Because the club wants a short contract, and the players want a long contract. It's difficult for this reason.

"But I think, at the end, we can find a solution.

"I know very well that it is not easy but I think that we can do a new deal for both. They are very important players for us.

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"It's very difficult to find a centre back for this level, and it's very difficult to find a central midfielder technically like Fabregas.

"So I think they have to stay with us."