AC Milan and Chelsea close to agreement on transfer of midfielder

My Football Facts ⇒ Articles

By Martin Graham | 31st May 2023

AC Milan and Chelsea are close to agreeing a transfer for midfielder Ruben Loftus-Cheek, according to reports.

The 27-year-old has been with Chelsea all his life, starting from their famed Cobham academy to the senior team. He has only spent two years away from the team, first in 2017/18 when he went on loan to fellow London side Crystal Palace and in 2020/21 when he joined another London side, Fulham, on loan.

Since making his senior debut in 2014, the former Chelsea youth has been unable to convince the multitude of coaches to grant him a starting spot in the team. He has been able to provide a strong squad option for them, however, making him one of their indispensable players.

He has also dealt with a lot of injury problems in his nine-year senior career which sometimes makes either a transfer or a more prominent role in the team impossible.

He enjoyed a good run in the just-concluded season, making 33 appearances in all competitions for the Blues. However, the club’s new owners and manager have deemed him surplus to requirements which means that Loftus-Cheek will be leaving his boyhood club in the summer.

AC Milan, who have done successful business with Chelsea in seasons past (Fikayo Tomori and Olivier Giroud), have reportedly been in contact with him for the past two weeks.

The reports also claim that a long-term contract is in the works between Milan and Loftus-Cheek’s representatives and that both clubs are in discussions over a transfer fee.

Previous reports claim that the Rossoneri had earmarked around £22 million for the midfielder and there is no new information on the amount being discussed between both teams at the moment.

Along with Loftus-Cheek, USMNT man Christian Pulisic could also have played his last game for Chelsea. The former Borussia Dortmund winger is attracting interest from Italy as well, with Juventus leading the line for his signature, according to reports.

Chelsea are reported to be demanding just £20 million for the American, who has battled injuries in his Chelsea career and was unable to live up to the billing. Pulisic is heading into the final year of his contract leading to the club putting him on the market so they can cash out on him while they still can.

It is also understood that while Juventus is the main party involved in the Pulisic transfer dealings, Manchester United, Newcastle United, Napoli, AC Milan and Galatasaray have all been approached to sign the winger. While the transfer fee may not be a problem, his wages will be, however.

It remains to be seen how Chelsea will offload both Loftus-Cheek and Pulisic in the summer.