Chelsea winger Noni Madueke has apparently emerged as a potential transfer target for AC Milan, who took Joao Felix off of the Blues' hands in the January transfer window.
The Rossoneri agreed to sign Felix on loan for the remainder of the 2024-25 season, as he joined a host of ex-Chelsea players at San Siro including Fikayo Tomori, Ruben Loftus-Cheek and Christian Pulisic.
Felix has struggled to adapt to life in Italy, though, only managing one goal and one assist from 10 games and failing to score in any of his first seven Serie A appearances for Sergio Conceicao's side.
Milan are not expected to push for a permanent move for Felix at the end of the season, although the Portugal international could supposedly still be offered an escape route from a fellow Premier League club.
In spite of Felix's struggles so far, Chelsea and Milan still have a positive working relationship, and the Serie A powerhouses have reportedly earmarked another Blues attacker for a summer swoop.
Milan identify Madueke as transfer 'priority'
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According to Fichajes, Milan have now expressed an interest in signing 23-year-old attacker Madueke, who has endured a mixed spell in West London thus far.
The former Tottenham Hotspur academy prospect joined the Blues from PSV Eindhoven in January 2023 for £29.5m, signing a seven-and-a-half year deal with the option for a further 12 months.
Madueke has since produced 17 goals and seven assists in 74 appearances for Chelsea in all tournaments, scoring eight times and setting up four more strikes in 28 matches during the 2024-25 campaign.
Consistency has been hard for the England international to come by, though, and he is currently sidelined with a hamstring problem, which he sustained against Brighton & Hove Albion on February 14.
Nevertheless, Milan have reportedly made Madueke their 'priority' for the summer transfer window, as they believe that the ex-Spurs starlet's speed and trickery would make him a brilliant fit.
What is Chelsea's stance on Madueke sale?
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The Rossoneri are believed to be interested in signing Madueke on a straight loan deal for the 2025-26 season, although they are currently exploring several options for a summer move.
However, Chelsea would reportedly prefer to sell the 23-year-old on a permanent basis and have not ruled out offloading him for good this summer, but they will hold out for a significant fee.
Madueke is also not thought to have made a decision on his future just yet, and he is unlikely to do so while he focuses on his recovery from injury and end to the season with Chelsea.
The Englishman could make his return from his hamstring problem in the Blues' first game back after the international break, which comes against his former club Tottenham Hotspur on April 3.
Ben Knapton
