Chelsea Transfer News: Latest Juan Cuadrado and Abdul Baba Rahman Rumours

AC Milan are reportedly ready to test Chelsea's resolve in their willingness to part ways with winger Juan Cuadrado this summer. Elsewhere, Abdul Baba Rahman is nearing a season-long loan move to Schalke 04.

According to Italian newspaper Tuttosport, Milan are hoping to take Cuadrado back to Serie A on a season-long loan with an obligation to buy, although the Blues may prove tough negotiators (h/t Calciomercato).

Rui Vieira/Associated Press/Associated Press

Rossoneri manager Vincenzo Montella is said to be seeking a wide man this summer, and after spending last season on loan at Juventus, Cuadrado reportedly "wants to return to Serie A."

However, it's understood Blues manager Antonio Conte wishes to keep the Colombia international in west London, and fan account Chelsea HQ praised Cuadrado for his display in Saturday's 3-2 defeat against Real Madrid:

Cuadrado moved to England's capital from Fiorentina in February 2015 and has made only 15 senior appearances for Chelsea since then, but it's possible Conte could provide the change he needs to thrive at the club.

The Colombian has shown the best form of his club career in Italy's top flight, and WhoScored.com recently illustrated what an elite asset he's proved to be in Serie A:

Conte looks likely to employ a strategy at Stamford Bridge driven largely by the wide areas, with the likes of Eden Hazard, Willian, Pedro and Victor Moses potentially having much greater influences at the club this term.

Cuadrado may therefore prefer to stick around in west London and persevere under Conte, who could hold the keys to seeing if he can finally be a success in the English top flight.

Matt Dunham/Associated Press

Meanwhile, left-back Rahman is reportedly inches from leaving west London to join Bundesliga outfit Schalke on a season-long loan, according to the Daily Star's Alex Harris.

The Ghana international is understood to have already undergone a medical prior to completing his return to Germany's first tier not long after the Guardian's Ed Aarons reported he would not be sold:

The move could leave the Blues short on options on the left side of defence, with Cesar Azpilicueta still the first choice in that area of the park.

Baba, 22, made 11 Premier League starts for Chelsea last season after joining the club from Augsburg last summer for a reported sum of £21 million, although his loan exit suggests he's far from lived up to that valuation.