Further reports of Chelsea closing in on signing Gonzalo Higuain

Safe to say, it’s happening. Most likely.

Gonzalo Higuain looks on his way to Chelsea, having already played possibly his final match for loan club AC Milan in last night’s Supercoppa Italiana, which Higuain’s parent club, Juventus won on a Cristiano Ronaldo goal, 1-0. Higuain’s didn’t start, but did play the final 20 minutes despite not being 100 per cent due to a fever.

Reports already seemed quite final late last week, and yesterday, the final few details emerged as well — first reported by Fabrizio Romano, now confirmed by the usual Chelsea sources in the English media: a six-month loan, with an option for a further twelve, as well as an option to buy in either 2019 or 2020.

It’s an arrangement that carries little risk for Chelsea, but reunites Higuain with the manager under whom he had the best season of his career (while also freeing Morata for a loan move to rediscover his mojo as well).

Neither the Telegraph nor the Guardian were willing to put an estimate on when the deal might official close. It should be “very soon” but not expected to be in time for the weekend’s game against Arsenal.

Either way, sounds like it’s happening — and in a way that’s a win-win for all involved.