Chelsea playmaker Joao Felix will not be included in Enzo Maresca’s squad to face West Ham as he is closing in on a loan move to AC Milan, according to reports.

Aston Villa were interested in signing the Portuguese last month, but Chelsea were demanding a fee of £60m for a permanent transfer. The Blues view Villa as a direct competitor for Champions League qualification, so were unwilling to let Felix join Unai Emery’s squad either.

Marcus Rashford has since arrived on loan from Manchester United, while Marco Asensio is set to become the club’s fourth winter window signing on a loan from Paris Saint-Germain. Felix, meanwhile, is now the subject of serious negotiations between Milan and Chelsea, according to The Telegraph.

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If he departs on loan, Chelsea will have no more international loan spots for their players, so Axel Disasi would have to move to another Premier League club if he leaves Stamford Bridge.

The France international wants to move to Villa, but Chelsea are wary of strengthening a rival and have set a high loan fee asking price. Villa are currently not going to match their demands to loan Disasi for the remainder of the season.

Tottenham had agreed a deal with Chelsea to loan in Disasi over the weekend, but the defender rejected the loan switch because he wants to play for Villa and link up with Emery.

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