Chelsea transfers: Fabrizio Romano confirms ‘concrete talks’ for midfield deal as second source backs up stance
Chelsea are locked in talks with AC Milan about a deal that would see Ruben Loftus-Cheek transfer to the Serie A side, per various sources.
Loftus-Cheek is about to enter the final year of his contract at Chelsea. It seems like time is up for the academy graduate, whose journey with the Blues could end at the age of 27. For a while, he has been the subject of links with a move abroad.
AC Milan have established themselves as strong contenders to offer Loftus-Cheek the next step. Now, Italian transfer expert Fabrizio Romano has confirmed there are ‘concrete talks’ ongoing between the two clubs.
Milan have made Loftus-Cheek their ‘priority’ target as they aim to revamp their midfield. In turn, negotiations are ‘progressing very well’, according to Romano.
Meanwhile, talkSPORT has shed further light on how Loftus-Cheek feels about the move. Echoing Romano’s claims that the former Crystal Palace and Fulham loanee is keen on the move, the radio station has reported that he would be willing to lower his wages to push it through.
Currently, Loftus-Cheek takes home more than £150,000 per week, but he is ready to make a sacrifice.
Tomori tells Loftus-Cheek to follow him to Milan
By moving to Milan, he could reunite with fellow Chelsea academy product Fikayo Tomori, who is reportedly trying to persuade him to make the switch to San Siro.
Tomori has made a success of his own move to Italy, helping Milan to the Scudetto last season. Therefore, Loftus-Cheek might be hoping for a similar revival if he follows in his footsteps.
The Milan squad also contains former Chelsea striker Olivier Giroud. Elsewhere in Serie A, there is another former Blue in the shape of Tammy Abraham at Roma.
Neither source has yet indicated how much Chelsea might earn by selling Loftus-Cheek to Milan.
His exit, should it go through, is expected to be one of many at Chelsea this summer. Todd Boehly has spent big on a plethora of new signings in each of the past two transfer windows, so the club now need to streamline their squad and balance the books.
Mauricio Pochettino is set to become Chelsea’s new head coach, taking over from caretaker manager Frank Lampard at the end of the season.
It looks unlikely that he will get the chance to work with Loftus-Cheek, though. After 152 appearances for the club, the midfielder now appears ready for a fresh challenge.
