Former Newcastle United and England striker Alan Shearer has said that Chelsea are at real risk of losing midfielder Ruben Loftus-Cheek at the end of this season due to his lack of playing time at Stamford Bridge.
The 22-year-old, who was at loan to Crystal Palace last season, remained with the Blues this campaign but has struggled to establish himself as a regular for the Blues, playing just nine games across all competitions.
Not one of those has been a Premier League start, with four substitute appearances and despite having scored five goals in both the league and cups, Shearer believes he will be deliberating a move away from the club in the summer of 2019.
He wrote in his Sun column: “Ruben Loftus-Cheek will have a big decision to make at the end of the season. He scored against Fulham yesterday – just like he did the last time he played in the Premier League against Burnley back in October.
“But despite doing very well every time he does play, he is just not getting enough game time.Loftus-Cheek had a good time on loan at Crystal Palace last season and then went to the World Cup with England.
“I understood his decision to come back and give it a go at Chelsea because a new manager had taken over. But he will have to wait and see if he plays more between now and the end of the season, otherwise, he will really have to consider his future in the summer.”
Opinion
Loftus-Cheek looks like one of the brightest homegrown talents that Chelsea have on their books right now but having brought the likes of Jorginho in over summer, his playing time has been minimal. Will he have been wishing to have secured a loan move away once again? Probably not, for he would have wanted the chance to prove himself to the Blues but he has not really been given that chance – and when he has, he has tended to make the desired impact. There are plenty of Premier League clubs – perhaps anyone outside the top four – who the 22-year-old could do a very good job for and he will know that. If it comes down to loyalty versus playing time, then the Blues are going to lose a top, top talent to one of their rivals in the summer if he does not start being handed more action this season.