Chelsea transfer news: AC Milan manager Gennaro Gattuso denies Gonzalo Higuain wants to leave

Gattuso last week said that 'when a player makes up his mind it becomes hard to convince them otherwise'

AC Milan manager Gennaro Gattuso has reneged on claims that Gonzalo Higuain wants to leave the club during the January transfer window.

Chelsea manager Maurizio Sarri is believed to be keen on reuniting with the former Napoli striker, as the club continues to line up potential replacements for wantaway striker Alvaro Morata who is being pursued by Atletico Madrid.

Milan signed the Argentinian on a season-long loan from Juventus last summer, but the 31-year-old’s return has been disappointing, mustering just five goals in 16 appearances.

Gattuso added weight to claims the player’s head had been turned this week when he claimed that when “a player makes up his mind it becomes hard to convince them otherwise”.

However, ahead of Milan’s Supercoppa Italiana fixture against Juventus on Wednesday, Gattuso backtracked on those claims, insisting that the striker had not told him he wanted to leave the club.

“I hear a lot of rumours on Higuain, but he is training well, he is happy with his team-mates, he is happy with everyone,” Gattuso said.

“In this moment he is available and then we will see whether he will play the match.

“We need to understand what he wants to do, how to fix this matter.

“Either he is a great actor, but I don’t think so. I see him inside the project, he gets on well with all the team. He is always joking. Sometimes he is like a radio, he never stops.

“One last thing – he still hasn’t told me he wants to leave, I am still waiting. You know what I mean.”

Higuain is understood to be just one of the options Chelsea are currently considering as a potential replacement for Morata, with Bournemouth striker Callum Wilson also a primary target.