AC Milan 'interested in signing Chelsea's Ruben Loftus-Cheek'

Ruben Loftus-Cheek is a reported target for AC Milan as they seek to bolster their squad this forthcoming summer following a poor defence of their 2021=-22 Serie A crown.

Having already acquired Fikayo Tomori in the summer of 2021, AC Milan have a solid recent history with Chelsea academy graduates.

With the Blues going on something of an extensive transfer spree under Roman Abramovich's successors Todd Boehly and Clearlake Capital both last summer and this January, questions have been raised over the future prospects of players like Loftus-Cheek.

According to CalcioMercato, the Italian club are eyeing Loftus-Cheek this summer as he enters the final months of his current Chelsea deal.

It is said that the first contact between the two clubs regarding the midfielder date back to their Champions League group stage encounters in the autumn.

The Italian publication state that a valuation of around £22m has bee discussed, though it remains to be seen for how much Chelsea hold out for in the summer.

The 27-year-old's deal runs out next summer and the new ownership have indicated they will not allow players to run down their deals so as to then leave on a free transfer, with Antonio Rudiger and Andreas Christensen being the most recent examples of such.

It is reported by the Italian outlet that despite Aster Vranckx's desire to play, he has fallen to the bottom of Stefano Pioli's midfield hierarchy.

Milan have endured something of a difficult title defence, with the ageing squad ravaged by injury and a lack of potency in front of goal as they have fallen away from runaway leaders Napoli in the early knockings of 2023.

Amid reports of Loftus-Cheek's potential departure, rumours that one-time fan favourite Mason Mount could leave the club this summer will just not dissipate.

The midfielder has rejected at least two contract offers, allegedly because they have not met the wage demands he feels he is worth.

Talks have reportedly been shelved until this summer, with the club and player focused on improving performances on the pitch.

The current ownership, led by Boehly, have indicated they will not let players enter into the penultimate year of their deals, let alone the final year.