Ruben Loftus-Cheek is reportedly being eyed by former Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho over a reunion at AS Roma this summer.
According to a report by Daily Mail, Jose Mourinho is keen on reuniting with Ruben Loftus-Cheek at AS Roma before the summer transfer window slams shut. The former Chelsea boss is looking to have a loan deal sanctioned for the 25-year-old midfielder, with a £13.5 million option to buy him next summer.
Ruben Loftus-Cheek has been with Chelsea since 2004, when he was an eight-year-old aspirant in their fabled academy. And the Englishman appeared to be a rare breed of players who earn their big break in the first-team setup while becoming a growing member of the squad.
However, a few injuries have adversely hampered his growth, with Loftus-Cheek having to suffice with a couple of loan spells away from Stamford Bridge. The 2018/19 season proved to be a solid campaign for the 25-year-old, who seemed to be finally growing as a key figure for Chelsea before a long-term injury curtailed his growth.
To date, Loftus-Cheek has made 82 appearances for Chelsea while chipping in with 12 goals and 11 assists along the way. However, the English midfielder has not managed to impress Thomas Tuchel enough, with the Chelsea boss deeming him to be surplus to requirements. And now, a former Chelsea manager is showing a desire to reunite with Loftus-Cheek, with Jose Mourinho wanting him at AS Roma.
The interest from Roma makes sense, despite the presence of Lorenzo Pellegrini, Nicolo Zaniolo and a promising Ebrima Darboe in Jose Mourinho’s squad. The Giallorossi appear to be eager to bolster their midfield, having also attempted to sign Miralem Pjanic and Denis Zakaria.
However, both the midfielders ended up being out of Roma’s reach as far as their financials are concerned, which is why they have now turned their attention towards Loftus-Cheek. The Serie A giants have already swooped one talented Englishman away from Chelsea, with Tammy Abraham joining them.
Now, Loftus-Cheek is a major target for Roma, who will attempt to sign the 25-year-old on an initial loan deal, with an option to buy him for £13.5 million next summer. As for Chelsea, they are in the market for a midfielder this summer, with a move for Saul Niguez in the works. What now remains to be seen is if Loftus-Cheek does reunite with Mourinho at Roma or if he joins some other club instead.