Gonzalo Higuain’s reported move to Chelsea remains “in the air”, according to AC Milan assistant boss Luigi Riccio.
Higuain did not feature as Milan claimed a 2-0 Serie A win at Genoa on Monday, with Rossoneri assistant Riccio phlegmatic about the Argentina striker’s absence.
Higuain, who is on loan at Milan from Juventus, is reportedly wanted at Chelsea by his ex-Napoli boss Maurizio Sarri.
“As for the transfer market we are all grown-ups, we know how to deal with these situations,” Riccio said, according to Gazzetta.
“It has been in the air for a few days.
“But we will work with the players at our disposal.”
Maurizio Sarri was Hguain’s manager at Napoli
Chelsea boss Sarri will hope his extraordinary criticism following the lacklustre loss at Arsenal is met with a response by his Stamford Bridge squad – and will want Higuain to support their bid for a place in the Carabao Cup final.
Chelsea have until 12noon on Wednesday to complete a deal for Higuain if they want him to be in the squad for Thursday’s semi-final second leg with Tottenham at Stamford Bridge, according to EFL regulations.
Higuain was left out of the Milan squad for Monday’s trip to Genoa, with Rossoneri boss Gennaro Gattuso admitting pre-match that the speculation had disrupted preparations.
Genoa could help expedite Higuain’s departure to London by selling Krzysztof Piatek to Milan.
The clubs were reportedly set to discuss a deal for the Polish striker following Monday afternoon’s match.
The deal for Higuain is a complicated one, given negotiations must involve Milan and his parent club Juventus.
The Blues normally prefer short-term commitments to players aged over 30, but it appears Sarri has persuaded Chelsea transfer chief Marina Granovskaia to compromise on that over 31-year-old Higuain.
Higuain played under Sarri for one season, scoring a Serie A record 36 goals in 35 games for Napoli in 2015-16 before joining Juventus.