‘Very advanced stage’ – Chelsea closing in on €15m sale of 27-year-old after transfer U-turn

AC Milan are growing in confidence of completing a summer transfer for Chelsea midfielder Ruben Loftus-Cheek, according to reports in Italy.

Loftus-Cheek has been the subject of interest from the Rossoneri in recent months and talks were progressing well over a switch to the San Siro.

Chelsea appeared to look close to a sale after Loftus-Cheek waved goodbye to the Stamford Bridge faithful when he substituted in their final Premier League game of the season against Newcastle United in west London at the end of last month.

However, AC Milan made the decision to part ways with directors Paolo Maldini and Frederic Massara, which put all negotiations on hold as the Serie A side reconsidered their summer strategy.

AC Milan are set to lose midfielder Sandro Tonali to Newcastle after a fee in excess of €70 million was agreed between the clubs. It now sees Milan need a replacement midfielder and Loftus-Cheek is back on the agenda.

As reported by Daniele Longo of Calciomercato, AC Milan are at a ‘very advanced stage’ to complete a €15 million deal this summer.

Stefano Pioli’s side are ‘very close’ to landing Loftus-Cheek and a deal is ‘expected to close’.

Loftus-Cheek will be part of the summer midfield exodus at Stamford Bridge. N’Golo Kante has already left for Al-Ittihad in Saudi Arabia, while Mateo Kovacic is Manchester City bound and Kai Havertz edged closer to joining Arsenal.

Chelsea are interested in signing Brighton & Hove Albion midfielder Moises Caicedo. They are on the verge of signing Villarreal forward Nicolas Jackson, who completed his medical over the weekend.