Several clubs are clamouring for Ruben Loftus-Cheek’s signature after the precocious midfielder impressed in the second half of the Premier League season and is featuring in some eye-catching performances with England. The Chelsea youngster has provided much-needed thrust and dynamism in the Three Lions’ engine room and he has earned rave reviews from fans and pundits alike. He has the technical, mental and physical attributes to continue dazzling fans in Russia and he will now be hot property in the summer transfer market. It will represent a crucial juncture in his fledgling career, and he will have his pick of some intriguing options.
Chelsea are one of the world’s elite clubs and the competition for places is ferocious in their midfield, as the Blues count N’Golo Kante, Cesc Fabregas, Timoue Bakayoko, Ross Barkley and Danny Drinkwater among their ranks. As such, Loftus-Cheek opted to go on loan to Crystal Palace last season and it proved to be an inspired decision. He emerged as one of the most exciting young talents in the Premier League and caught the eye of England manager Gareth Southgate. He earned his first cap in November 2017, and that surely would not have happened had he been languishing in the Chelsea reserves.
The Blues are unlikely to let him leave on a permanent deal as they appreciate his potential. Former Chelsea heroes are full of praise: Frank Lampard says Loftus-Cheek “can do everything”, while Glen Hoddle likened him to the legendary Michael Ballack. He is a strong box to box midfielder, firm in the tackle but graceful on the ball, blessed with an enviable range of passing and the ability to run at defenders and wreak havoc in the final third of the pitch. He is also a fine athlete – quick, strong, powerful and boasting a tremendous engine. He has the ability to develop into a world-beater and Chelsea will be wary of letting him go when he could flourish further.
The Blues are in the process of appointing a new manager, and Loftus-Cheek might be seen as a useful squad player for the 2018/19 season, but he should agitate for another loan move in order to maintain his progress. And there is no better home for him than Selhurst Park as he bids to develop into an elite midfielder. The club should enjoy a special place in his heart for spotting his talent and offering him a platform on which to shine. Roy Hodgson gave him a lot of game time last season, despite having plenty of options in midfield, including Yohan Cabaye, Luka Milivojevic and James McArthur, and he was rewarded as the youngster established himself as a key player during the Eagles relegation battle and eventual rise up the table.
The club is developing a fine reputation as a breeding ground for young talent. Wilfried Zaha rose through the ranks here and earned a move to Man Utd, with many at the time touting him as the most exciting youngster in English football. He was not given much of a chance at Old Trafford, so he returned to Selhurst Park and he has thrived. Now he is worth £70 million and some of the biggest clubs in the league are casting admiring glances his way. He is regarded as one of the best attackers in the Premier League nowadays, and that is a direct result of his decision to choose to resume his footballing education at Selhurst Park.
Crystal Palace are desperate to secure his services for another year, and he should be guaranteed a place in the starting 11 at an ambitious club that is committed to playing exciting, attacking football. Loftus-Cheek will have some interesting counter-offers to choose from, but they all come with their downsides. West Ham are apparently keen to take him to the London Stadium, but they have endured a miserable couple of seasons, with fans protesting and toxicity proving to be the prevailing sentiment.
Everton are also in the mix, but competition for places would also be high at Goodison Park. They already have Gylfi Sigurdsson, Idrissa Gueye, Davy Klaassen, Morgan Schneiderlin, James McCarthy and Muhamed Besic in their ranks. Some of them are likely to be moved on, but the Toffees are ambitious and they are likely to make further moves in the transfer market, with Jack Wilshere touted as another possible arrival. If Loftus-Cheek is to leave Chelsea on loan to seek first team football, he should choose somewhere that will provide him with a regular starting berth, and Crystal Palace remains the best destination for him. If he continues to impress in Russia – and the World Cup spreads suggest that England will do well with him in the midfield – the offers will pile up, but he is young enough to spend another season with a club like Palace before seeking to either break into the Chelsea first-team or secure a permanent move to an elite club next summer.
