Messaggero: Loftus-Cheek keen on reuniting with Sarri at Lazio – what it depends on

Ruben Loftus-Cheek is reportedly open to leaving AC Milan and joining Lazio in the January transfer window.

As Il Messaggero report, the winter mercato will be different for Lazio, given the Covisoc transfer ban is no longer in place. According to their director Fabiani, who spoke pre-match in Parma over the weekend, there’s a desire to given Maurizio Sarri some reinforcements in January.

“The discussions are at the highest level, there’s constant discussion between the president and the coach. We’re focused on a few deals to complete, but we’re keeping them to ourselves. The transfer market is also about ideas; in football, the one who spends the most isn’t always right.”

RLC in sight

Sarri would like to reunite Loftus-Cheek, a favourite from his Chelsea days. The midfielder could leave Milan, but his current salary of €4m plus bonuses is considered a bit too high for the capital club at present.

Photo by Yu Chun Christopher Wong/Eurasia Sport Images/Getty Images

The paper adds that Ruben would be willing to spread it out over several years to work with Sarri again, but the deal remains complex, especially since Lazio’s former sporting director Igli Tare is in the way.

The possible departures of Belahyane and Dele-Bashiru will not be enough to fund the deal. The sale of Guendouzi (who gets €2.2m net per year) would have to be completed to even consider a midfield arrival.