Ruben Loftus-Cheek's move to AC Milan is reportedly in doubt with the Italian outfit having second thoughts due to the midfielder's age.
The Englishman was said to have already agreed terms with the Rossoneri but Gianluca Di Marzio now claim that the Serie A side have pumped the brakes.
Chelsea were holding out for a price tag of £21m for the 27-year-old but Milan are now questioning if he is too old, despite being an age that is deemed to be the prime for a footballer.
According the the Italian outlet Loftus-Cheek 'did not convince the management due to an investment issue regarding age'.
It was believed that Loftus-Cheek was their priority signing in the centre of the park.
A long-term injury to regular stalwart Ismael Bennacer has left them thin on numbers in midfielder, with the Algerian believed to be out until close to the end of the year following a serious knee injury.
Following Chelsea's 1-1 draw with Newcastle on the final day of the season at Stamford Bridge, Loftus-Cheek appeared to wave farewell to the crowd, raising his arms towards the fans after the final whistle.
He would not be the first Chelsea star to make the move to the San Siro, with former team-mate Fikayo Tomori swapping blue for red-and-black as recently as 2021.
Reports state that the entourage Loftus-Cheek - who has been capped 10 times by England - is in talks with both AC Milan and Chelsea over the player's future.
Though the west London outfit are thought to be standing firm over their valuation of the midfielder, the Champions League semi-finalists' initial bid is some way off that figure.
AC Milan have so far bid just £13m for the 27-year-old, as per reports, although they could increase that fee to around £17.2m, but are not keen on exceeding that mark for a player that will be available for free next summer.
Following Chelsea's 1-1 draw with Newcastle on the final day of the season at Stamford Bridge, Loftus-Cheek appeared to wave farewell to the crowd, raising his arms towards the fans after the final whistle.
He would not be the first Chelsea star to make the move to the San Siro, with former team-mate Fikayo Tomori swapping blue for red-and-black as recently as 2021.