Chelsea forward close to sealing Serie A move | OneFootball

Chelsea's Hakim Ziyech is nearing a loan move to AC Milan, 90min understands.

The Morocco international was free to leave Chelsea on a permanent deal during the summer but Milan declined to pursue a transfer and instead opted to recruit Belgian Charles De Ketelaere for a fee of around €32m.

Their interest in Ziyech has remained, however, and the former Ajax man is still on the fringes at Stamford Bridge. He has featured in just nine games all year and his only start under Graham Potter was the Carabao Cup defeat to Manchester City.

Now, Milan are prepared to renew their push to sign Ziyech and sources close to the situation have confirmed to 90min that a loan move to San Siro is inching closer.

Asked about his future, and specifically a potential return to Ajax, after Morocco's World Cup opener against Croatia, Ziyech refused to rule out a move away from Chelsea once the January transfer window opens.

"It's hard to say," he told NOS. "We don't know what will happen in the winter.

"It's football, so it's difficult to say."

Milan are lining up Ziyech as they consider the short-term future of De Ketelaere, who has struggled to make much of an impact at San Siro with just one assist in 18 appearances before the World Cup.

Clubs from across Europe are watching De Ketelaere's situation - 90min understands Leeds are considering a loan bid - and Milan are not yet believed to have ruled out loaning the Belgian, whose departure would help speed up Ziyech's arrival.