Chelsea risk missing out on £57m Gonzalo Higuain transfer as AC Milan swoop for Juventus striker

Chelsea coach Maurizio Sarri is in danger of missing out on one of his key transfer targets after AC Milan stepped up their bid to sign Juventus striker Gonzalo Higuain.

Sarri has earmarked Higuain to lead the attack this season and hoped Chelsea would agree a deal worth up to £57m.

Club record signing Alvaro Morata, who failed to have a single effort on target in the west London club’s 1-0 friendly win over Perth Glory on Monday, is hoping to secure a move back to Serie A.

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AC Milan are one of the clubs interested in the Spain international and talks between the two clubs took place last week. It included Chelsea making an inquiry for Gianluigi Donnarumma as a possible replacement for Real Madrid bound Thibaut Courtois.

But AC Milan are also keen on Higuain, who is available as Juventus look to balance the books following the acquisition of Cristiano Ronaldo.

The Serie A club have been in touch with Higuain's brother and agent Nicolas to sound out if he'd be interested in joining them.

Chelsea’s transfer plans

While Sarri wants the Argentine, the Chelsea hierarchy are still weighing up whether to spend such a huge sum on a 30-year-old that will also expect a salary of £130,000-a-week.

The sale of Morata would fund the move as they want a minimum £58m, the same amount they paid Real Madrid 12 months ago.

A possible sale of Willian to Barcelona would also provide revenue for Sarri to spend in the window, but the La Liga club are having second thoughts.

Chelsea rejected their latest offer worth £64.2m on Monday as they value the Brazil international at £70m.

Barcelona are now considering beating Roma to the £35.7m purchase of Bordeaux winger Malcom instead.

Roma had announced the deal with the 21-year-old was agreed yesterday only for Malcom to not travel to the Italian capital as expected for a medical.

It is believed Barcelona have reached out to Malcom at the 11th hour to alert him of their interest.