Emery pressed for Loftus-Cheek as Milan move stalled

Unai Emery reportedly pushed hard for Ruben Loftus-Cheek during the January window, but the AC Milan midfielder rejected Aston Villa’s approach as he prioritised staying in Italy.

Villa ultimately secured Douglas Luiz on loan from Juventus as their only midfield arrival in the winter market. However, Italian reports suggest Loftus-Cheek was a serious alternative as Emery sought reinforcements following injuries to Boubacar Kamara, John McGinn and Youri Tielemans.

According to Italian outlet Tuttosport, both Emery and Lazio manager Maurizio Sarri applied “intense pressure” on their respective clubs to explore a move for the 30-year-old.

Loftus-Cheek’s versatility made him an attractive option. He has featured in multiple midfield roles for Milan this season, playing 1,340 minutes across 26 matches under Massimiliano Allegri.

Having followed Villa’s midfield issues in January, the need for cover was evident. Kamara’s absence in particular disrupted balance, while McGinn and Tielemans also faced spells out. Emery’s search for experience and physical presence explains the interest.

However, the move stalled quickly.

The report claims Loftus-Cheek “immediately rejected” advances from both Aston Villa and Lazio. His preference was to remain at San Siro, and he also turned down a lucrative €10 million per year offer from Saudi Arabia.

Allegri is said to have blocked his exit during the winter window, reinforcing Milan’s desire to retain him. Now, discussions over a contract extension are reportedly progressing, with optimism building around a renewal potentially running until 2030.

If agreed, that would keep Loftus-Cheek at Milan until the age of 34 and significantly complicate any future attempt from Villa to revisit interest in the summer.

However, it remains too early to suggest negotiations are finalised. Contract talks can evolve quickly depending on performance levels and financial considerations.

Villa’s focus now shifts back to Premier League and European objectives, with Luiz expected to play a central role in stabilising midfield depth.

For Loftus-Cheek, renewal talks with Milan are progressing and could be finalised in the coming weeks. Should an agreement be reached, Villa would likely need to look elsewhere if midfield reinforcements are required in the summer window.

Did Villa miss out on the right fit, or was Loftus-Cheek always destined to stay at Milan?