Chelsea have made clear to Ruben Loftus-Cheek that he will have opportunities to make his mark in the first team at Stamford Bridge this season and have reiterated their reluctance to sanction another loan move in what remains of the European transfer window.
Loftus-Cheek, whose performances at Crystal Palace last season earned him a place in England’s World Cup squad, has been keen to prove himself back at his parent club this term but was dismayed to find himself omitted from Maurizio Sarri’s matchday squad for the win against Arsenal on Saturday. His non‑involvement for that game, after a cameo at Huddersfield on the opening weekend, had left the 22‑year‑old contemplating whether he would have to seek a loan move abroad before the end of the month.
Although Loftus-Cheek was disappointed at his omission, Sarri and Chelsea have made clear they want the midfielder to fight for his place in the team and would only revisit a potential loan move away in January if he has failed to make an impact by then. They believe a player who remains highly rated at the club would benefit from working under Sarri at Cobham, rather than under another coaching regime elsewhere, and have effectively challenged him to force his way into the reckoning.
Loftus-Cheek, now capped eight times, is understandably concerned he will lose his place in the England setup if he does not feature at club level with Gareth Southgate due to name his squad for the games against Spain next month and Switzerland on 30 August. Yet he has found himself further down the pecking order at Stamford Bridge since returning from his season at Palace.
Chelsea secured the Real Madrid midfielder Mateo Kovacic on loan with no option to buy this month, with the Croatia international effectively taking Loftus-Cheek’s place on the bench against Arsenal, and have preferred Ross Barkley in midfield for the team’s first two Premier League games.
Germany’s Schalke and clubs in France have expressed a desire to take him on loan, interest that the player knocked back, with Chelsea’s reluctance to let him leave likely now to frustrate any clubs in Spain before the closure of their window at the end of the month. If he stays until January and opportunities remain limited, Loftus-Cheek could then seek a move to a rival Premier League club. Palace, whose attempts to secure him for a second season were rejected, could potentially revive their own interest at that point.
Chelsea, as per their club policy, would seek to secure him to a new long‑term contract if he does end up leaving on another loan but Loftus‑Cheek, whose current £60,000-a-week deal expires in 2021, is expected to resist committing his future further to the club given the doubts around his involvement. The England striker, Tammy Abraham, is interesting clubs in the Championship – including Aston Villa – having also failed to feature as yet this season.
