Ruben Loftus-Cheek 'agrees to' AC Milan transfer as Mauricio Pochettino plans Chelsea squad overhaul

Chelsea midfielder Ruben Loftus-Cheek has reportedly agreed to move to Italian giants AC Milan.

Loftus-Cheek has made 33 appearances in all competitions this season, without scoring.

It has been his best season at Chelsea in terms of Premier League appearances, with the England international playing 25 times in the top flight this term.

But it has also coincided with a miserable campaign for the team, with club finishing 12^th in the table – despite spending £600m in the last two transfer windows.

That level of spending has created a bloated squad at Stamford Bridge that is in need of a clear-out this summer, with former Tottenham boss Mauricio Pochettino tasked with rebuilding the team once he officially begins as manager on July 1.

Chelsea academy graduate Loftus-Cheek is one of the squad members that will be allowed to leave when the transfer window opens.

The 27-year-old has given the green light to move to AC Milan, according to La Gazzetta dello Sport (via The Sun).

It is claimed Champions League semi-finalists Milan are planning to bid for Loftus-Cheek with the view of him to replace Ismael Bennacer, who is currently sidelined with a knee injury which will likely keep him out of action until the end of the year.

Chelsea are said to be seeking £21m for Loftus-Cheek, while Milan's opening bid is expected to be much lower at £13m.

However, the Serie A side are believed to be willing to raise their offer to £17.2m.

Loftus-Cheek's contract at Chelsea is set to expire at the end of next season in 2024.

After Chelsea's final game of the current campaign against Newcastle on Sunday, he appeared to wave goodbye to the club's fans at Stamford Bridge.

Since making his first-team debut in 2014, Loftus-Cheek has made 155 appearances for Chelsea, scoring 15 times.

He has won the Premier League, Europa League and UEFA Super Cup with the Blues, also spending time out on loan at Crystal Palace and Fulham.