Chelsea manager Frank Lampard has confirmed that there is a possibility that Ruben Loftus-Cheek exits on loan before the summer window shuts.
The 24-year-old is currently competing for a spot in the Blues first-team and he started the opening game of the Premier League season in a win over Brighton, but it was an underwhelming individual performance from him.
He’s failed to make the match day squad for any of the following three fixtures and Lampard has explained that the midfielder’s immediate future may be away from Stamford Bridge if the right opportunity presents itself.
“There’s a possibility that he may go out to play games because I think that will be great for him. We hold him in very high regard here, I certainly do and that could be a good option for him,” Lampard said, as quoted by the club’s official website.
“If that’s not the right option he’ll be competitive in this squad as well because of the qualities he has.
“I’m relaxed about it but I want to find the best path for Ruben and the best path for us so at the minute we’ll see with the week we’ve got ahead of us.”
(Photo by Darren Walsh/Chelsea FC via Getty Images)
Loftus-Cheek is a major favourite with the Chelsea fanbase and there was so much excitement around him when he first broke into the senior squad from the academy.
His standout season was the 2018/19 campaign under Maurizio Sarri, but apart from that his time in a Chelsea shirt has been plagued by injuries and it’s massively halted his momentum to fulfil his huge potential.
He’s an attacking midfielder that previously impressed for Crystal Palace during a loan spell and he’s played for England too, but the current competition in Lampard’s squad is stiff this season.
(Photo by Richard Heathcote/Getty Images)
A selection of Chelsea supporters on social media agree that allowing Loftus-Cheek a temporary exit this season makes sense.
Here are some Blues fans discussing Loftus-Cheek:
Good move for RLC. https://t.co/KATX71MX4S
— Shailesh (@ShaileSHinde) September 29, 2020
He needs the move, it’s his glimmer of hope https://t.co/6iKOoBjSyK
— 🍻 (@FrankTheBeef5) September 29, 2020
Loan move for Loftus-Cheek is a good ideal. That has been my wish for him.
Go on loan, get a regular playing time and come back to Chelsea a better player. #CFC 💙— Sept 29th Baby 🌹 Chelsea First Lady 💙 (@Roseangel009) September 29, 2020
Best move for him. The competition is getting tougher now.
— Olawale Adigun (@Olawarrley) September 29, 2020
RLC could use a loan. Still not his old self after injury, and he really impressed at Palace, so a good loan to a PL team could boost his performances.
Rüdiger can leave, but not to a direct competitor. Sell or loan him abroad. Also struggled since his injury.
— LP (@LrnsPdvn) September 29, 2020
Good CB options Rudiger needs to be sold
Shame about Loftus Cheek with injury but right move to loan him out
— CFC REN 💙 (@CFC_Ren) September 29, 2020
you just have to accept that this is probs the best for him https://t.co/AQyU7Lchn8
— Jeziah🌟🇬🇭 (@CFCJez_) September 29, 2020
So upsetting but I can see why this is the case. I’m sure with a couple of months of performances in the No. 8, Ruben will be firing on all cylinders again
He’s going to be at Chelsea for the long haul, and what a story it’ll be by the end of it https://t.co/K92PuS6ejV
— RubensLoftyCheeks (@RuLoCheeks) September 28, 2020
He needs to get that loan asap
Man is becoming the new lingard https://t.co/GPjmJzHRRO
— Chiz (@ChizValentine1) September 29, 2020