Chelsea have received a boost in their interest in AC Milan striker Gonzalo Higuain.

Sky Italia says Milan are pulling back from plans to buy Higuain outright from Juventus.

Milan paid £16million to take Higuain on a season-long loan in the summer and can make the transfer permanent at the end of the current campaign by paying a further £32m.

However, Milan owners Elliott Management are going cold and Chelsea boss Maurizio Sarri is clear to move in to sign a player he knows well.

The Argentine striker, 31, played under Sarri at Napoli during a prolific 2015-16 season in which Higuain scored 36 goals in 35 Serie A appearances.

Higuain scored six goals in his first seven games for Milan but has since netted only once in nine matches.