AC Milan are reportedly weighing up a winter approach for Chelsea captain Gary Cahill following a long-term injury to Mattia Caldara. The Italy international recently picked up a calf injury, which has sidelined him for around three months, and this appears to have increased the club’s urgency for a new central defender.

According to Calciomercato, the Rossoneri are planning to make an approach for Cahill at the turn of the year as they seek to cover up the absence of Caldara. It is added that they could pursue him on a bargain price, given he has just eight months remaining on his deal and has yet to begin contract negotiations with the west London giants.

Cahill has been a regular for the Blues over the years but he has not managed to claim a similar role under the guidance of Maurizio Sarri this campaign. The England international has yet to make a Premier League start with most of the gametime coming in the Cup and European competitions where he has received some criticism.

As such, he could pursue a mid-season exit from the Blues but it remains to be seen whether the hierarchy are open to sanctioning such kind of a deal. At present, the FA Cup holders have just four regular centre-backs in the form of Antonio Rudiger, David Luiz, Andreas Christensen and Cahill himself and they may not want to offload the latter without finding a suitable replacement.

Juventus’ Daniele Rugani has been one player regularly talked up to make the move to the Bridge but recruiting him in January appears a difficult task, given the Bianconeri may not want to make changes at the halfway stage. Meanwhile, there have been reports that Rugani could yet pen an extension with the Turin giants as they consider him as a long-term replacement for Giorgio Chiellini.