Chelsea midfielder transfer paused but Euro giants will still pursue snare despite backroom exit
AC Milan are reportedly ‘still keen’ on signing Ruben Loftus-Cheek after Paolo Maldini’s departure, and ‘aim to progress a deal later in the summer’.
Departures look as if they will come thick and fast at Stamford Bridge this summer. Over £500million has spent in the last two transfer windows, and the books will need some balancing.
That means some saleable assets will be shipped off in order to ensure Chelsea don’t receive any sanctions due to Financial FairPlay regulations.
Loftus-Cheek is one player that is frequently mentioned in terms of potential exits.
That he’s got just a year left means the Blues should have no problems in shipping him out. In fact, they’re apparently actively encouraging sides to take players off their hands that have just one or two years left on their deal.
Loftus-Cheek has not been without suitors. One club in particular – AC Milan – have been linked with him often over the past few months.
It was recently reported the Serie A giants were close to agreeing the terms of his contract.
The same report, from transfer insider Fabrizio Romano, suggested talks were ongoing to reach a full agreement in terms of the fee, and all parties were ‘hopeful and optimistic’ they’d be able to do so.
Milan aim to ‘progress’ Loftus-Cheek deal down line
Maldini’s exit from Milan could have potentially hindered the deal. Indeed, the former technical director of the club was sacked recently.
Obviously, that has the potential to throw any not-yet-completed deal up in the air, with whoever takes the role after him potentially looking at some transfers differently.
It does seem to have paused the deal while things in the backroom are sorted. However, the move doesn’t seem like it’s going to go up in flames.
Indeed, Football Insider reports Milan are ‘still keen’ on snaring the midfielder.
They apparently ‘aim to progress’ a deal later in the summer, likely until whoever does become the new technical director has settled at the club.
It could come sooner than that might suggest, though. Indeed, the report states the last week of June and the beginning of July ‘could be key weeks’ as that period of time is expected to be when Milan make a ‘formal bid’.
Milan have Loftus-Cheek competition
Given Loftus-Cheek has apparently ‘been told’ he can leave Chelsea, it’s not a surprise that Milan aren’t the only side interested in him.
The report suggests Brentford are one of the clubs that ‘are believed to have had a look’ at him.
They could conceivably swoop while Milan have their foot off the gas. Whether or not that does happen remains to be seen, but it would be a statement from the Bees for a few reasons.
Firstly, they’d be battling a huge European side, and secondly, they’d be doing so for a very experienced Premier League player from one of the league’s biggest sides.
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