Chelsea hold key that unlocks dream £42m Man United transfer amid 'monster' Thomas Tuchel mission

Chelsea hold the key to Manchester United's dream summer transfer window as Ruben Loftus-Cheek begins to attract interest from the Serie A. Lazio are lining up a deal to sign the Cobham graduate at the end of the season, according to Italian outlet Corriere dello Sport.

The 26-year-old has featured 36 times across all competitions for Thomas Tuchel's side this season, directly contributing to six goals from the heart of midfield. Loftus-Cheek has often shown flashes of brilliance in a Chelsea shirt, but he's never quite reached the heights that he once enjoyed under Maurizio Sarri in 2019.

Loftus-Cheek's impressive displays have courted the interest of Lazio - so much so that the former Blues boss has made the England international his number one priority this summer with star man Sergej Milinkovic-Savic set to leave. The 27-year-old will leave the Sarri's side at the end of the season and the Italian giants want no less than €80m (£xxm) for the Serbia international, according to Calciomercato.

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The report claims that United and Pairs Saint-Germain are the leading contenders for Milinkovic-Savic's services. With the Serbian reportedly on his way out of Lazio and Loftus-Cheek eyed as a replacement, a deal could rely on whether Loftus-Cheek swaps Stamford Bridge for Stadio Olimpico.

Therefore, the west Londoners could hold the key to United's ability to sign the £42m-rated midfielder, as valued by CIES Football Observatory. However, despite reports linking Loftus-Cheek with a move away from Chelsea, Tuchel has made it his mission to 'unleash the monster' inside of the Blues midfielder, potentially throwing a spanner in the works.

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