Serie A giants AC Milan are close to agreeing a deal to sign Ruben Loftus-Cheek from Chelsea, according to reports.
A move for the 27-year-old is yet to be finalised but the Serie A side are hopeful that it will be completed in the coming days, with a potential £15m transfer fee mooted.
It will bring to an end a near 20-year association between Chelsea and the England international, who joined the club’s academy in 2004.
He has scored 13 times in 155 appearances for the club, with 10 of those coming during the 2018-19 campaign, but struggled for game time under successive managers during the second half of last season.
He was a part of the England squad who reached the semi-finals of the 2018 World Cup in Russia.
The club are keen to do as much outgoing transfer business as possible before June 30 so that deals can be included in financial accounts for the 2022-23 season.
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N’Golo Kante and Kalidou Koulibaly have already departed to join sides in Saudi Arabia’s Professional League, with Edouard Mendy and Hakim Ziyech expected to follow them after deals were agreed.
The PA news agency understands that Kai Havertz’s £65million move to Premier League rivals Arsenal will be announced this week, with a deal also in place for Mateo Kovacic to join champions Manchester City.
Mason Mount’s future remains in doubt, with the club so far unable to come to an agreement with Manchester United over a fee for the midfielder, who has told Chelsea he wants to leave.
CBS Sports journalist Ben Jacobs has an update on Callum Hudson-Odoi and tips the winger to be the next Chelsea player to head to Saudi Arabia.
Jacobs wrote in his Caught Offside column: “While Mount continues to attract the interest of Manchester United, and Kai Havertz prepares to join Arsenal, while Mateo Kovacic heads for Manchester City, most of Chelsea’s sales this summer have been to clubs in the Saudi Pro League. It now looks like another name could follow N’Golo Kante, Hakim Ziyech, Kalidou Koulibaly and Edouard Mendy.
“As has been reported, a move to Saudi Arabia is certainly an option for Callum Hudson-Odoi this summer. But nothing has been decided just yet. Hudson-Odoi is assessing his future and may prefer to stay in Europe. Despite a relatively underwhelming loan at Bayer Leverkusen last season, there is no shortage of interest in the 22-year-old.
“Keep an eye on Brentford and Fulham. Crystal Palace and West Ham have also enquired. Newcastle are a historic suitor, but not currently considering a move.
There is also some initial interest from Atalanta.
“It’s no surprise another Chelsea player is linked with a move to Saudi Arabia. PIF’s dealmakers realise there are a range of Chelsea assets available and have purposefully explored deals in bulk. This is the advantage of PIF representing four clubs (Al-Hilal, Al-Ahli, Al-Ittihad, Al-Nassr). It allows far more business to get done. Chelsea are certainly open to a Hudson-Odoi sale.”
