Chelsea have gone cold on signing permanently on-loan Juventus striker Gonzalo Higuain.

The Blues have an option to extend the player's loan into next season - but are now leaning towards sending him back to Turin, reports TMW.

Higuain has scored just four goals in 14 appearances.

It's suggested Juve could use the striker as bait in talks for Inter Milan striker Mauro Icardi.

However, any decision over Higuain's future will be dependent on Chelsea manager Maurizio Sarri, who has intimated a willingness to persist with the Argentine.