The striker's heart is elsewhere, apparently.

Head coach of AC Milan Gennaro Gattuso has all but confirmed Gonzalo Higuaín's imminent departure to Chelsea by admitting that he "accepts his decision." The 31-year-old forward was omitted from the squad list for Monday's league encounter with Genoa. It is the second consecutive game that the Argentine has been denied a spot in the starting eleven as it was the case in the Supercoppa defeat to Juventus last week.

With speculations already citing that Higuain to Chelsea is a done deal, the striker's current manager has confirmed the authenticity of the news with his latest comment. In retrospect, a dominoes effect has already been set in motion as Chelsea looks set to lose Alvaro Morata to Atletico Madrid, while AC Milan is also anticipating the arrival of Genoa's Krzysztof Piątek to replace the departing Higuain.

"I want to be honest with you all. We had a poor training session today due to all these rumors," Gattuso said in his pre-match press conference ahead of Monday's trip to Genoa.

"We spoke after the training session and I did not consider him [Higuain] ready for this game.

"I accept his decision. Surely he could have done more and maybe we could have helped him fit in better.

"Right now we have to work with professionalism and determination, all these rumors have not helped us lately and we have to look ahead.

"I am more worried about how to transmit calmness to the players and how to field the best team. Tomorrow [Monday] we will be without four players and I am a bit worried. We have to put it aside and play with enthusiasm."

Following Chelsea's 2-0 defeat to Arsenal on Sunday, head coach of the London club Maurizio Sarri dropped a massive hint of Higuain's imminent arrival. In his post-match rant as a result of his side's non-performance, he said: "The club knows what I want, I'm sure they are doing their best. But whoever arrives will have difficulties with the mentality of today."

Gonzalo Higuain is expected to be the fourth-highest earner at Chelsea with his wages rumored to be 170,000 pounds-a-week.