AC Milan are increasingly confident of agreeing a deal to sign Chelsea midfielder Ruben Loftus-Cheek.
90min revealed in April that the Rossoneri had made their interest in Loftus-Cheek known, with former Chelsea defender Fikayo Tomori providing a glowing review of the 27-year-old.
Since then, talks have continued between Chelsea and Milan and sources have confirmed to 90min that enough progress has been made for the Serie A giants to be confident of getting a deal for Loftus-Cheek over the line.
Loftus-Cheek is approaching the final 12 months of his contract at Stamford Bridge and, due to Chelsea's new policy of trying to avoid players entering the last two years of their deals, is one of a number of players on whom decisions will be made this summer.
The Blues are aware of the need to sell players as soon as possible and 90min understands that talks with Milan over Loftus-Cheek are close to reaching a positive resolution.
READ MORE FROM THE 90MIN TALKING TRANSFERS TEAM
Chelsea are keen to agree to the permanent departure of Loftus-Cheek, whose status as an academy graduate would make his sale even more beneficial in terms of Financial Fair Play.
It is understood that a permanent transfer is on the cards in the coming weeks, although at this point, a loan deal with an obligation for Milan to sign Loftus-Cheek permanently next summer has not yet been ruled out. Chelsea do have a one-year extension clause in the midfielder's contract which would make this possible.
Milan are also known admirers of Kalidou Koulibaly, Christian Pulisic, Hakim Ziyech and Callum Hudson-Odoi, but it is Loftus-Cheek who has been the focus of their efforts thus far.
There has been Premier League interest in Loftus-Cheek from Crystal Palace, Fulham, Leicester, Newcastle, West Ham and Wolves, but the English midfielder is believed to be intrigued by the idea of linking up with Tomori in Italy.
LISTEN NOW
On this edition of Talking Transfers, part of the 90min podcast network, Scott Saunders, Graeme Bailey & Toby Cudworth discuss the possibility of Neymar joining Newcastle, Jude Bellingham's decision on his future and Lionel Messi leaving PSG.
If you can't see this embed, click here to listen to the podcast!
This article was originally published on 90min as AC Milan progressing with talks to sign Ruben Loftus-Cheek from Chelsea.