Ruben Loftus-Cheek
Rome, Italy 18th May 2025: Ruben Loftus-Cheek of AC Milan during SERIE A 2024-25 football match between AS Roma vs AC Milan at the Olimpico Stadium
Aston Villa signed Douglas Luiz on loan from Juventus and was the only midfielder to arrive at Villa Park in the winter market.
Prior to the Brazilian’s loan signing, Aston Villa looked at a few options, including AC Milan’s Ruben Loftus-Cheek.
Tuttosport have a report on why Aston Villa failed to sign Loftus-Cheek, and Milan’s plan for him.
January interest in Loftus-Cheek
Boubacar Kamara, John McGinn and Youri Tielemans have all been on the sidelines since January. This wencouraged Unai Emery’s side to look at other options before settling on Luiz.
The UK media were confident about the former Chelsea man moving to Aston Villa in the winter market, but that didn’t happen. Last month, Sport Witness covered claims from Italy of Milan manager Massimilliano Allegri blocking his San Siro exit in January.
Tuttosport pick up on that and cover the Premier League side and Lazio’s firm interest in the 30-year-old.
The newspaper state Maurizio Sarri and Emery put ‘intense pressure’ on Lazio and Aston Villa. Loftus-Cheek can operate across several positions, and this attracted the two managers.
Immediately rejected Aston Villa
However, a move never took shape mainly because the England international ‘immediately rejected’ the Biancocelesti and Villans’ advances as his priority is to continue at the San Siro. He also rejected a €10m per year offer from Saudi Arabia.
Loftus-Cheek has played 1,340 minutes from 26 matches for Milan this season, and Allegri has utilised him in multiple roles. His contract expires in 2027. The Rossoneri could reward him for not entertaining Aston Villa and Lazio’s approaches in the winter market.
According to the report, he wants to extend his contract with the Italian club, and the negotiations are underway for the renewal.
The newspaper state: ‘Full steam ahead and positive sentiments are building toward a definitive agreement in the coming weeks.’
Tuttosport aren’t certain of the length of the contract but believe it’s until 2030. That will keep him at Milan until he turns 34 years of age.
Despite Emery’s pressure, the potential renewal makes it more complicated for Aston Villa to even consider signing Loftus-Cheek in the summer