Sport Fikayo Tomori admits surprise at AC Milan loan deal

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Fikayo Tomori has admitted his surprised to receive a phone call from AC Milan legend Paolo Maldini about joining the Italian giants on loan.

Tomori has now linked up with the Rossoneri on a deal until the end of the season and called it an opportunity he couldn't turn down.

The 23-year-old defender said speaking with Maldini, now the club's technical director, confirmed that Milan was where he wanted to be after being left on the sidelines at Chelsea by manager Frank Lampard.

© Provided by Daily Mail Chelsea defender Fikayo Tomori has joined AC Milan on loan until the end of the season

© Provided by Daily Mail Tomori was surprised to receive a phone call from AC Milan technical director Paolo Maldini

'It's a club with great history, this is an opportunity I couldn't turn down,' the English defender told Milan's official website.

Newcastle look set to miss out on Fikayo Tomori as AC Milan interest ramps up

Chelsea defender Fikayo Tomori looks set to snub a loan move to Newcastle after AC Milan’s transfer plans were scuppered, making him a priority for the Serie A leaders. According to Sky Italia’s Gianluca Di Marzio, an injury to Mohamed Simakan of Strasbourg means that AC Milan’s top January target is now no longer a possibility. The Serie A side have prioritised a central defender with Simakan as the likely target, but his injury has forced the Scudetto contenders to switch to alternative targets. That means Tomori looks to now be the top target for the Italian side.

AC Milan hope to complete their loan move for Fikayo Tomori in time for the Chelsea defender to make his debut on Saturday. Thiago Silva’s summer arrival left the Blues with five senior centre-backs, with Lampard admitting it Tomori ’s loan is expected to run until the end of the campaign

Fikayo Tomori has joined Milan on loan with an option to buy, placing his future at Chelsea in doubt. The defender flew to Italy on Friday to complete the move and could be involved when the Serie A leaders face Atalanta on Saturday.

He continued to reveal his surprise at AC Milan's interest, saying he instantly knew he wanted to join the club.

'I was surprised, when I spoke to Paolo Maldini, the best defender who has ever played football, I knew this was where I wanted to be and where I wanted to play football.

'I am very happy to be here now.'

© Provided by Daily Mail Tomori has said the opportunity to play in Stefano Pioli's side was too good to turn down

Tomori opted to leave Stamford Bridge after Thiago Silva's summer arrival pushed him further down the pecking order.

Despite his temporary departure from west London, boss Frank Lampard has insisted that Tomori still has a 'long-term future' with the Blues.

Milan closing in on loan deal with £25m option for Chelsea’s Tomori

The Rossoneri are close to securing the England international centre-back, who will arrive at San Siro on an initial six-month loanStrasbourg defender Mohamed Simakan had been the Rossoneri’s primary target, but the Frenchman, who is also a target of RB Leipzig, needs surgery and will be sidelined for around two months.

CHELSEA defender Fikayo Tomori is reportedly nearing a loan move to join AC Milan . The Mail claim the clubs have discussed a temporary deal with the option to make the defender's Frank Lampard admits Fikayo Tomori didn’t start FA Cup win against Morecambe as he could be going on loan .

Fikayo Tomori seals loan move to AC Milan until the end of the season with Serie A leaders taking Fikayo Tomori will wear the No 23 shirt at AC Milan after joining the club on loan The Italian side have kept the option to buy Tomori from Chelsea in the summer

Speaking about why he let Tomori leave, Lampard said: 'Because I have five centre-backs and I can't do this job and expect to please every fan; that's football.

© Provided by Daily Mail Tomori is below Thiago Silva, Christensen and Kurt Zouma in the Chelsea pecking order

© Provided by Daily Mail Blues boss Frank Lampard insisted the loan move to Milan was best for Tomori's development

'What players you should pick or not, whether you are searching for consistency or going on an unbeaten run there are questions.

'I have to pick two at a time and the numbers don't always add up.

'Fikayo is a developing player, a very good player. He is going to be a top player.'

Tomori is set to return to Chelsea after his loan spell, although Milan are understood to have retained an option to buy him for £25million in the summer.