Aston Villa have enquired about Ruben Loftus-Cheek, talkSPORT understands.
Unai Emery is on the lookout for extra bodies after superstar midfielder Boubacar Kamara was ruled out for the rest of the season.
AC Milan midfielder Ruben Loftus-Cheek in action against Juventus
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Loftus-Cheek could be back in the Premier League after two-and-a-half years awayCredit: Getty
Amadou Onana, Ross Barkley and John McGinn, who went off in the early stages of Villa's 1-0 loss to Everton on Sunday, join Kamara in the casualty ward.
It's left Youri Tielemans, Lamare Bogarde and teenage prodigy George Hemmings, who came on with 17 minutes remaining against the Toffees, as Emery's only fit central midfielders.
With the Villans alive in the FA Cup, third in the Premier League and hoping for a deep run in the Europa League, Emery needs all the help he can get in the engine room and Loftus-Cheek could be the man to provide it.
Who else is interested in Loftus-Cheek?
However, Villa may not have a clear run at the 29-year-old.
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talkSPORT revealed in the latest instalment of the Transfer Notebook that Loftus-Cheek has been offered to Manchester United.
The Red Devils are looking to boost their midfield stocks in the hopes of strengthening their bid for Champions League qualification.
Talks between Loftus-Cheek's representatives and United are only exploratory at this stage but they now run the risk of being pipped to the post by Villa.
Loftus-Cheek has made 23 appearances in all competitions for AC Milan this season, but only 12 have been from the start.
He was also handed a surprise recall to the England squad by Thomas Tuchel and enjoyed a 21-minute cameo in a 3-0 win over Wales last October.
Loftus-Cheek is no stranger to the Premier League having previously represented Chelsea, Fulham and Crystal Palace.
Ruben Loftus-Cheek claps AC Milan's fans
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The 29-year-old hasn't enjoyed the greatest of game time for Milan this seasonCredit: Getty
The towering midfielder came through the academy at Cobham and went on to make 155 appearances for Chelsea, scoring 13 times and registering 18 assists across all competitions.
During his stint at Stamford Bridge, Loftus-Cheek won the Premier League, the Europa League and the UEFA Super Cup.
He ended his 19-year association with the west London outfit in June 2023 when he joined Milan, where he has gone on to feature almost 100 times.
Who else is on Aston Villa's radar?
The enquiry for Loftus-Cheek continues a busy January window for Villa.
Donyell Malen's departure to Roma has left the West Midlands club desperately short of attacking options.
However, Villa have narrowed in on Tammy Abraham to help fill the void and a move for the former Chelsea ace is in the advanced stages.
Aston Villa manager Unai Emery
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Emery needs more bodies through the door this January amid several injuries and departuresCredit: Getty
But complicating matters is the fact Abraham is on loan at Besiktas from Roma, with the Turkish side having a conditional obligation to make the striker's move permanent.
Should Besiktas continue to make things difficult, Villa are prepared to pivot away and could make a move for Crystal Palace striker Jean-Philippe Mateta.
Mateta has shown no indication of prolonging his stay at Selhurst Park beyond 2027, when his contract expires.
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The Frenchman had been heavily linked with a move to Juventus, but the Italian giants have since withdrawn from the deal.
Villa have also recalled Jamaican winger Leon Bailey from his loan at Roma.