Chelsea are readying an offer of €60m (£49.8m) for the signature of AC Milan midfielder Youssouf Fofana, according to a report.
The Blues have unexpectedly forced their way into Premier League title contention in the first half of the 2024-25 season, sitting second in the table with a four-point gap to Liverpool, who have a game in hand.
The previously criticised Moises Caicedo has flourished in Enzo Maresca's system, while Enzo Fernandez has also found a knack for scoring and assisting after forcing his way back into the team.
Romeo Lavia, Renato Veiga, Cesare Casadei, Carney Chukwuemeka and Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall represent alternative midfield options, but the latter three are out of favour and could pursue moves elsewhere next year.
Should Chelsea be left short in midfield by January or summer exits, Fichajes claims that the Blues could test Milan's resolve over Fofana, one of the 'great revelations' of European football this season.
Milan to make massive profit on Chelsea-linked Fofana?
© Imago
The Rossoneri paid just €20m (£16.6m) to sign Fofana from Monaco, where he formed a successful midfield partnership with Aurelien Tchouameni, now on the books at Real Madrid.
However, Milan could apparently make three times the amount they paid for the French midfielder, whom Chelsea are willing to pay €60m (£49.8m) for either in January or at the end of the season.
Given the significant profit that the Italian giants would make, the report claims that a £49.8m package would likely be enough for them to sanction a sale, even though Fofana's contract still runs for another three and a half seasons.
Milan are already expected to tie fellow midfield fulcrum Tijjani Reijnders down to fresh terms, and they could therefore be open to parting ways with Fofana if they can secure the former's future.
The latter is believed to be earning around £88,000 a week at San Siro, but his pay packet could rise into six figures should he join Chelsea, who are just one of a few clubs keeping a close eye on the situation.
Fofana joining the Blues would see him head in the opposite direction to some of his teammates, as current Milan trio Tammy Abraham, Christian Pulisic and Ruben Loftus-Cheek previously turned out for the West London giants.
How has Fofana performed for Milan this season?
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Fofana became a regular at the heart of the Milan midfield immediately after his arrival, and the France international has turned out 22 times for Paulo Fonseca's team this season, scoring one and setting up five more.
The 25-year-old has started 14 Serie A matches and all six Champions League games for Milan so far this season, registering a handful of assists despite mostly occupying a deep-lying number six role.
Fofana averages 1.6 tackles per game and 3.9 ball recoveries per game in the current campaign, meaning that he could add a bit more steel to Chelsea's midfield if Caicedo is ever absent.
Ben Knapton
