Ruben Loftus-Cheek has been linked with a move away from Chelsea at the end of the season, with AC Milan interested in him.
According to a report from Calciomercato, AC Milan are keen on signing Ruben Loftus-Cheek as Stefano Pioli looks to shore up his midfield options. The Chelsea utility man is likely to cost around €25 million.
Apparently, the first contact between the two parties have already taken place. And it remains to be seen whether AC Milan and Chelsea can agree on a fee during the summer transfer window. There seems to be a consensus that €25 million is a fair price for the Englishman.
The 27-year-old midfielder has had a tough time at Stamford Bridge and has not been able to hold down a regular starting spot in the side. Apparently, Graham Potter does not see him as an indispensable asset. So Chelsea could look to cash in on him in the summer.
The Blues value the player at €25 million, and it remains to be seen whether Milan will eventually pay the asking price for him. However, the report adds that the transfer will depend on the player’s willingness to leave London and move to Italy.
Loftus-Cheek will have seen the development of Fikayo Tomori since leaving Chelsea for Milan, and he could feel that a move to Italy would be ideal for him as well. But reports a few months ago suggested that he wants to remain at Chelsea.
The 27-year-old is a quality player, and there is no doubt that he could be an asset for most Premier League clubs. He is unlikely to have a shortage of opportunities in England after attracting clubs like Newcastle United in January. So Milan will have to convince him to move to Italy.
Meanwhile, Chelsea have spent a lot of money over the last two windows and will be looking to get rid of some of their fringe players to balance the books. Loftus-Cheek could be on his way out of the club if a suitable offer arrives in the summer.
Chelsea are looking to add more depth and quality to their central midfield unit. And they have been linked with players like Moises Caicedo and Declan Rice in recent months. If the Blues end up bringing in another midfielder, Loftus-Cheek will fall further down the pecking order. In that case, moving away from Stamford Bridge would be ideal for him.
