Chinese Super League club Shandong Luneng Taishan FC ruled out the rumors that they are after Chelsea midfielder Cesc Fabregas in the ongoing Chinese winter transfer window.

Fabregas, 29, has lost his starting spot in the Blues' lineup this season after head coach Antonio Conte took over the team last summer. So far, the World Cup-winning midfielder has only appeared in 15 out of 25 Premier League matches and has started only five times for the Stamford Bridge giants, scoring only two goals.

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With that, speculations abound that the Spain international would be on his way out of Chelsea in the winter transfer window as he was linked to several other teams, such as Manchester United, Manchester City, and Barcelona. A move to the United States' Major League Soccer was also rumored to be possible.

After Europe's winter window closed at the end of last month, rumors are now suggesting that the Chinese Super League is targeting Fabregas, particularly Jinan outfit Shandong Luneng. China's winter transfer window extends up to Feb. 28.

However, Goal reported that Shandong has "dismissed suggestions they are planning to lure Cesc Fabregas away from Chelsea", using social media to clarify the issue.

"Yikes! What a super competent agent we have," Shandong posted on their local social media account after the rumors went out, via the Mirror. "But Fabregas is not our cup of tea."

The post went on to plead for people to stop spreading the "fake news" and that the club "will not buy another foreign player this season" as the team's "coaching staff have already made elaborate arrangements for our foreign players".

At the moment, Shandong head coach Felix Magath has former Southampton striker Graziano Pellè, former Newcastle United winger Papiss Cissé, and Brazilians Diego Tardelli and Gil as his imports for the upcoming 2017 CSL season next month.

"In the meantime, we will remain committed to producing home-grown talents for the Luneng academy. How about bringing up our own Fabregas?" Shandong's post ended, implying that they intend to focus on their local young players.

TagsChinese Super League, Chinese Super League rumors, Chinese Super League rumors 2017, Cesc Fabregas, Chelsea FC, Shandong Luneng Taishan FC