Ruben Loftus-Cheek reportedly has no intention of joining Crystal Palace, Everton or West Ham United as he wants to stay put at Chelsea.
According to a report by Daily Mail, Ruben Loftus-Cheek wants to remain at Chelsea beyond the summer transfer window. The English international is courting interest from Crystal Palace, Everton, and West Ham United in the Premier League, with clubs outside England also keen on signing him.
Ruben Loftus-Cheek spent his formative years at Chelsea after joining the club’s academy as an eight-year-old in 2004. The 26-year-old broke into the west Londoners’ first-team squad in 2014 after a decade of making swift progress through the ranks. But he has only made slow progress in the last few years, with a long-term Achilles injury hampering his progress.
However, the Englishman has been much improved this term, with Thomas Tuchel trusting him enough to try him in various positions. Loftus-Cheek has made 32 appearances for Chelsea, chipping in with one goal and four assists. The player’s performances have not gone unnoticed, with Everton, Crystal Palace, and West Ham United setting their sights on him.
Everton will have a big summer transfer window upon them if they stave off relegation this season, with Frank Lampard’s squad carrying too many underperformers. With Allan on the wrong side of 30 and Andre Gomes out of favour, the Everton boss could do with the addition of a player like Loftus-Cheek.
Meanwhile, Crystal Palace will return to the market for a central midfielder, as Conor Gallagher will likely return to Chelsea once his loan deal expires. And signing another player from Chelsea in Loftus-Cheek, who has previously spent a season on loan at Crystal Palace, might not be a bad idea, considering the 26-year-old can reprise various roles in the middle of the park.
Finally, West Ham could be looking at Loftus-Cheek as a long-term successor for captain Mark Noble, who will hang up his boots at the end of the season. While West Ham should stave off the threat of Manchester United, Chelsea, and Manchester City to successfully keep Declan Rice at the London Stadium.
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Everton, Crystal Palace, and West Ham are not the only suitors pursuing Loftus-Cheek, with Lazio also linked with him. But the English international is uninterested in leaving Chelsea and hopes to continue at Stamford Bridge beyond the summer transfer window. Chelsea’s transfer embargo might also force their hand, meaning Loftus-Cheek should remain at the club beyond the summer.
