AC Milan Midfielder Ruben Loftus-Cheek On Aston Villa’s Radar As Unai Emery Seeks Midfield Reinforcements
The 29-year-old could be heading back to England.
Ben Horlock
Updated on 21 January 2026
Ruben Loftus-Cheek has emerged as a transfer target for Aston Villa as the English Premier League side seek midfield reinforcements.
Head coach Unai Emery is prepared to enter the market owing to the injury suffered by Boubacar Kamara. It’s feared that the Frenchman will miss the rest of the 2025-26 campaign.
Loftus-Cheek is being strongly considered by Villa who are gunning for a top-four finish this season. Emery views the AC Milan ace as a prime candidate to help the club in their quest to secure Champions League soccer.
📰 @JPercyTelegraph: Aston Villa consider move for AC Milan midfielder Ruben Loftus-Cheek amid fears Boubacar Kamara will miss the rest of the season. Loftus-Cheek emerging as potential option for Unai Emery. pic.twitter.com/6xseZjWsrF
— Milan Posts (@MilanPosts) January 21, 2026
Ruben Loftus-Cheek Transfer News Reveals Aston Villa Interest
In September, Ruben Loftus-Cheek’s England recall provided fresh hope that the 29-year-old could make Thomas Tuchel’s World Cup squad after his glistening performances for AC Milan.
Although Loftus-Cheek has been a regular under Max Allegri, the former Chelsea star wants a more prominent role. And that is where Aston Villa comes in.
Loftus-Cheek knows the club well and naturally, is acclimatized to the pace and rigors of top-flight soccer in England’s elite. Villa’s need to replace Boubacar Kamara is being prioritized as a matter of urgency.
The 26-year-old is a vital cog in Unai Emery’s side. So much so that the Spaniard has only entertained two defeats in games that Kamara has started this term.
Emery will have to move quickly, though. Manchester United are also keeping tabs on RLC as interim boss Michael Carrick aims to boost his midfield options at Old Trafford.
How Much Will Ruben Loftus-Cheek Cost Aston Villa?
Despite Donyell Malen’s transfer to Roma last week, Aston Villa is still in a precarious financial position. The forced sale will generate approximately €27million via the loan fee and obligation to buy figure.
Villa’s FFP concerns will mean they need to tread carefully in the remaining days of the transfer window. It’s likely that the Champions League-chasers will seek a temporary move for AC Milan’s Ruben Loftus-Cheek.
At this stage, it’s unknown whether a loan offer will be accepted. Milan values Loftus-Cheek at €30m but there is plenty of room for negotiation.
Interestingly, Loftus-Cheek shares the same agent as Villa defender Ezri Konsa which could help smooth over talks. If Unai Emery does decide to advance in his pursuit for the Englishman, that is.
Will AC Milan Sign A Replacement?
Even though AC Milan is content to let Ruben Loftus-Cheek leave the San Siro, they would be more than happy to keep him on board.
Nonetheless, Max Allegri must now identify candidates who could potentially fill the void if Loftus-Cheek was to move on from the club.
Especially as Atalanta has targeted Loftus-Cheek in recent days as well. La Dea are keeping tabs on the 29-year-old as a successor to Ederson.
Therefore, the Rossoneri have shortlisted the likes of Leon Goretzka, Weston McKennie, Soungoutou Magassa and Azzurri international Nicolo Zaniolo as possible replacements.
Ben Horlock
Ben has a long standing devotion to Italian soccer and in particular, Serie A. Ben grew up watching legendary presenter James Richardson deliver the latest news and views with the daily papers and breakfast in hand. Not only does Ben follow Italy's top soccer division, he is an avid follower of all the major European leagues. Ben is an expert on all things Serie A and has produced a number of features and news articles for FootItalia as well as UK-based outlets such as HITC, 90min, GiveMeSport and Betfair. In the US, Ben has been published on ESPN and Sports Illustrated.
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