Everton are eyeing a move for Chelsea midfielder Ruben Loftus-Cheek in this ongoing January transfer window.
According to Daily Mail, Ruben Loftus-Cheek has emerged as a target for Everton. The Merseyside giants are increasingly keen on signing a new midfielder during these late stages of the winter transfer window. The Chelsea starlet has emerged as an ideal target as interim coach Duncan Ferguson looks to deal with an ongoing injury crisis in the middle of the park.
Indeed, Everton’s season has been rocked by injuries, with multiple key players, including Dominic Calvert-Lewin, missing a chunk of the campaign. The latest names to join the list have been Abdoulaye Doucoure and Fabian Delph. Both the players have been ruled out for at least four weeks after picking up their respective knocks last week, leaving Ferguson devoid of option in midfield.
In an attempt to replace the two, Everton have set their sights on Loftus-Cheek. The Chelsea midfielder has been a bit of a hot commodity in the English market this January after becoming a key rotation player at Stamford Bridge this term. The Englishman has already made 12 league appearances so far, with Thomas Tuchel considering him as a viable first-team option.
Loftus-Cheek was reportedly targeted by Juventus earlier in the window, perhaps as a direct replacement for Arsenal target Arthur Melo. But it appears the Brazilian is set for a prolonged stay in Turin despite the recent addition of Dusan Vlahovic.
Chelsea, though, are still set to face a battle in keeping hold of the 26-year-old, as Everton hope for a late January swoop. The Toffees have had a busy window so far, having brought in the likes of Vitaliy Mykolenko, Nathan Patterson and Anwar El Ghazi. They were also dealt with the departure of Lucas Digne, whereas Rafa Benitez was sacked following a poor start to the campaign.
Chelsea, in contrast, are yet to sign a new player in January. They haven’t let go of any either, and with very little time to find a replacement for any outgoing stars, Loftus-Cheek’s potential move to Goodison Park remains an unlikely proposition.
It will force Everton to set their sights on other alternatives. They have been linked with a late swoop for Dele Alli, but it will be interesting to see if they can land the England international before the winter transfer window slams to a shut.
