Fikayo Tomori: AC Milan interested in Chelsea defender

Fikayo Tomori’s Chelsea future is set to become clearer in the coming days after Strasbourg centre-back Mohamed Simakan was ruled out for two months with an injury.

Simakan - one of the most sought-after defenders in the January transfer window - has been at the centre of a battle between RB Leipzig and AC Milan for his signature but a deal now looks unlikely because he needs surgery.

AC Milan's next option is Tomori, who has hardly played under Frank Lampard this season, and he is said to be intrigued by a loan to San Siro for more first-team games.

Several Premier League clubs are also interested in Tomori but are said to need to move players out before bringing another centre-back in, making a move abroad for the player more likely.

Chelsea boss Lampard has already said Tomori can go out on loan this month after being reluctant to let him leave in the summer while Antonio Rudiger was close to leaving Stamford Bridge.

Tomori had a number of clubs interested then, including AC Milan, but it was too late for a deal to materialise when it emerged on deadline day that Rudiger would be staying.

After the club's 4-0 FA Cup win over Morecambe, Lampard said: "The situation with Fikayo is kind of open at the moment. There's a possibility he could be going on loan to get games somewhere else (but) that would have to be the right solution for him and the club."

The injury to Simakan is a major blow for the France youth international, who has also been impressing a number of Premier League teams this season. Sky Sports News previously reported that he has been among the plans of several big clubs this January.