Massimiliano Allegri reportedly wants to keep Ruben Loftus-Cheek at AC Milan beyond the winter transfer window amid his links with Aston Villa.

According to a report by Italian outlet Corriere dello Sport, Ruben Loftus-Cheek is the subject of interest from Aston Villa. The Villans are keen on bolstering their first-team squad by signing a versatile midfielder before the winter transfer window shuts down. So, the 30-year-old AC Milan midfielder has emerged as a target for the West Midlands outfit.

Recent reports have also suggested that intermediaries have offered the Englishman to several Premier League clubs. However, a January deal will not be straightforward for Aston Villa, as Massimiliano Allegri wants to keep Loftus-Cheek at AC Milan beyond the winter transfer window.

How has Ruben Loftus-Cheek fared at AC Milan?

Ruben Loftus-Cheek has endured a topsy-turvy ride since joining AC Milan from Chelsea in a deal worth £15 million in July 2023. The Englishman was once among the most promising midfielders in his homeland during his time in Chelsea’s fabled academy. However, fitness issues plagued the player for several years, stunting his progress while dropping him in the pecking order at Stamford Bridge.

The 30-year-old has shown flashes of brilliance during his spell with AC Milan, but he has never been an undisputed first-choice starter for the Rossoneri. Loftus-Cheek has managed only 1,190 minutes of game time across 23 appearances thus far in the 2025/26 season. So, it is hardly surprising that the English midfielder’s situation has piqued the attention of several well-known clubs, including Aston Villa.

Premier League return on the horizon?

Ruben Loftus-Cheek has been on Aston Villa’s wishlist for a long time. The continued interest is understandable, as Unai Emery has lost John McGinn and Boubacar Kamara to fitness issues that will keep them in the treatment room for the foreseeable future. So, after failing to sign Conor Gallagher, the Villans need an alternative.

Several candidates have thus emerged on Aston Villa’s wishlist, with Loftus-Cheek also a viable target. However, the latest report has brought bad news for the West Midlands outfit, as Massimiliano Allegri wants to keep the 30-year-old Englishman at AC Milan beyond the winter transfer window.

With the AC Milan manager intervening to block Loftus-Cheek’s exit, Aston Villa must identify alternatives if the move for the former Chelsea midfielder does not materialise. It will be interesting to see what the future holds for the English international.