Aston Villa are reportedly weighing up a surprise loan move for AC Milan midfielder Ruben Loftus-Cheek, as the club seeks to address a midfield crisis following a severe injury to key player Boubacar Kamara.
Kamara's Season-Ending Injury Revelation
Initial hopes that Kamara would only be sidelined for a few weeks were dashed when further tests revealed significant damage to his knee, confirming he will miss the remainder of the season. This setback is a major blow for the 26-year-old French international, who also missed the 2022 FIFA World Cup due to an anterior cruciate ligament injury and is now likely to be absent from the next tournament in the United States and Canada.
The injury occurred during a match against Tottenham Hotspur, resulting from a poor challenge by Joao Palhinha, leaving Villa scrambling for solutions in midfield.
Villa's Midfield Shortage and Transfer Strategy
With John McGinn also injured in a recent defeat to Everton, and Amadou Onana and Ross Barkley still unavailable, Villa are facing a critical shortage of options in central midfield. Manager Unai Emery had been focusing on signing a new attacker to replace Donyell Malen, but the Kamara injury has shifted some of his attention towards bolstering the midfield.
According to reports from The Athletic, Villa are now 'considering' a loan swoop for Ruben Loftus-Cheek after missing out on other targets, such as Conor Gallagher, who joined Tottenham Hotspur instead.
Loftus-Cheek's Profile and Potential Deal
Loftus-Cheek, 29, has featured in all but two of AC Milan's 21 Serie A matches this season, though he has only started nine of those games. His recent involvement in the England setup under Thomas Tuchel in September, after a six-year absence, highlights his continued quality and experience.
Villa are optimistic that a loan deal could be feasible, given his limited starting role at Milan, and Emery is known to be a long-time admirer of the player. Loftus-Cheek, who joined Milan from Chelsea in 2023 for around £15 million, has a contract that runs until June 2027, adding complexity to any potential transfer negotiations.
It remains uncertain whether AC Milan would be willing to loan out the midfielder, but Villa are actively exploring this option as they aim to navigate through their injury woes and maintain competitiveness in the league.
