Chelsea have been handed a boost as they pursue the signing of AC Milan goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma after the Italian's talks over a new contract reportedly stalled.
The 22-year-old has already racked up more than 200 Serie A appearances for his boyhood club and looked like he could bagged his first-ever league title this season before Milan's title challenge faded.
Donnarumma's current deal at the San Siro expires this summer, with player and club far apart when it comes to agreeing personal terms, according to La Gazzetta dello Sport.
Donnarumma, currently on £100,000 a week, has been offered an improved wage of £133,000-a-week deal, but no deal has signed.
Thomas Tuchel has Edouard Mendy and Kepa Arrizabalaga in his ranks, but the opportunity to bring in someone of Donnarumma's calibre for free this summer is too good an opportunity to turn down. Tuchel's former club Paris Saint-Germain are also rumoured to be interested.
It is believed Milan are getting increasingly frustrated by the lack of progress in negotiations, with missing out on Champions League qualification a potential sticking point for Donnarumma.
Stefano Pioli's men have won just five of their last 10 league games as city rivals Inter have streaked clear, with Milan now second but only four points ahead of fifth-placed Napoli.
The Rossoneri won 3-1 at Parma on Saturday, with goals from Ante Rebic, Franck Kessie and Rafael Leao, while Zlatan Ibrahimovic was sent off on the hour mark.