Serie A giants eye up Chelsea man as Man Utd target hesitates over offer

AC Milan have lined up Chelsea defender Andreas Christensen as their plan B following disappointment in their efforts to sign a Barcelona star, reports claim.

The struggling Italian giants had wanted to take Jean-Clair Todibo from Barcelona, but the promising youngster seems to have turned them down, as he only wants to leave the Catalan giants on loan – or with the promise of a buyback option.

Todibo, who had also been linked with Manchester United, is expected to join German Bundesliga side Schalke on loan instead.

With Milan in the market for a permanent reinforcement, Sky Sport Italia claim that they are now focusing on Chelsea’s Christensen.

The 23-year-old has struggled for action under Frank Lampard this season, registering just eight appearances in the Premier League – although they have all been starts.

With Lampard preferring the likes of Fikayo Tomori and Kurt Zouma at centre-back, Christensen’s first team chances have been severely restricted, and he has not featured in the league in over a month.

Therefore, Milan believe they may have a clearer run at signing the Danish international, who previously impressed on a two-year loan at Borussia Monchengladbach between 2015 and 2017.

The Serie A side hope to take Christensen – whose contract at Stamford Bridge expires in 2022 – on loan until the end of the season with an option to buy in the summer, although the Blues would prefer to sell now.

Milan do have an alternative to Christensen, with a swap deal with Atalanta between Simon Kjaer and Mattia Caldara also under consideration.