Tomori loan deal close says AC Milan technical director Paolo Maldini

A loan move for Fikayo Tomori is close to completion however, could still fall through according to AC Milan technical director Paolo Maldini. 

The two clubs are close to agreeing a fee in the range of  £25m loan deal with an option to buy at the end of the loan. 

Milan have been tracking the progress of the 23 year old alongside Strasbourg's defender Mohammed Simakan being the prime targets. 

However, with Simakan being injured for 2 months through requiring surgery the Serie A Club have made an attempt to step up their efforts to secure the signing of Fikayo Tomori in this window. 

When asked about talks surrounding finalising the loan move, Maldini stated "It's very close, we are currently at the stage in between confirming his signing or not signing him at all, it could all fall through with just one detail". 

"We saw in him the quality to throw him into the mix and be able to fit in with our other defenders, and that's why we want him."

Tomori who came through the ranks at Stamford Bridge has only featured 27 times for Chelsea in all competitions since making his debut for the first team in May 2016.

With loan spells to Brighton, Hull and Derby it looks ever likely that Milan is set to be added to that list. 

Chelsea manager Frank Lampard had already confirmed that Tomori was allowed to go out on loan in January's transfer window having been reluctant to let the defender leave in the summer whilst there was speculation of Antonio Rudiger being close to leaving the Blues. 

Several premier league clubs such as West Ham and Everton had expressed a strong interest in signing Tomori. 

Among the clubs chasing Tomori were AC Milan who were trying to sign him last year however, it was too late for a deal to be agreed when it was emerged on deadline day that Antonio Rudiger would be staying at Stamford Bridge.

Frank Lampard on Monday was asked about whether Tomori's loan would be imminent his reply was "Fikayo is a player who is developing. Last year in the squad we had four centre-backs. I can't play four in one game when your trying to find consistency at different times. At one point Fikayo was a part of this and later on not so much."

He then went onto state "This year we have five centre-backs. So we find ourselves in a difficult predicament for those not playing regularly and this is possibly why he may go out on loan, for his own personal development."

Lampard finished by saying " He is a young player. In the last two seasons or so that I have worked with him his development has been a huge rise. There is no doubt this will continue and hopefully we can find the best path for that."

For more articles on news relating to Chelsea football club please visit my twitter account @followchelsea Link - Follow Chelsea (@FollowChelsea4) / Twitter