Cesc Fabregas is still a Chelsea player despite his emotional goodbye on Saturday, as the club want to sign a replacement before letting him leave.
The Spanish midfielder was in tears as he made a lap of honour to applaud the fans after the FA Cup third round win over Nottingham Forest, as he prepares to move to Monaco.
A contract has already been agreed between Fabregas and the Ligue 1 club, however he has returned to training at Cobham as his move is delayed.
Chelsea are hoping to conclude a deal for either Cagliari's Nicolo Barella or Leandro Paredes of Zenit Saint Petersburg before the end of the week - and will not let Fabregas go before then.
Blues manager Maurizio Sarri has told his club they must sign a replacement for Fabregas this month.
Fabregas, who won two Premier League titles with Chelsea, has agreed a three-and-half year deal at Monaco, however a free transfer deal in the summer is also in place should no replacement be signed this month.
Allowing Fabregas to join Monaco immediately - even on a free - would save Chelsea around £10million in wages and bonuses, however any quality replacement would not come cheap.
The Blues are said to be put off by Cagliari's £45million valuation of Barella, who has been capped four times by his native Italy, while Zenit would also command a tidy sum for Paredes.
Fabregas, 31, has made just one Premier League start this season, and is unlikely to feature for Chelsea again with his future clearly away from Stamford Bridge.
Sarri said on Monday: 'In my opinion, he needs to go. You know very well the situation. He has an offer for two years. I don't want a very important player as Cesc unhappy.'