Chelsea are ready to engage in contract talks with Ruben Loftus-Cheek, with the aim of preventing the England international from running his deal down at Stamford Bridge, according to a report from The Sun.
The newspaper claims that Chelsea want to extend the academy graduate’s contract beyond the two-years his current one has left to run, in order to prevent him running down his contract and seeking a move away in the next few years.
Loftus-Cheek enjoyed a very encouraging loan spell at Crystal Palace last season, where the midfielder was influential in helping Roy Hodson keep Palace up after a poor start to the season, that was enough for him to be brought back into the first team squad at Chelsea this season.
However, despite some good performances especially in Chelsea’s run to the semi-finals of the Europa League, Loftus-Cheek has had to compete with the likes of Matteo Kovacic and Ross Barkley in the league, to fill in alongside N’golo Kante and Jorghinho in midfield in Maurizio Sarri’s 4-3-3 system.
OPINION
Keeping hold of players like Ruben Loftus-Cheek will be vital Chelsea, especially given the club being issued with a potential transfer ban preventing them from signing any replacements in the next few transfer windows. The England international has shown that he is a capable performer for Sarri’s side, but has yet to fully establish himself at the heart of the Italian’s three man midfield, with Matteo Kovacic and Ross Barkley both preferred to Loftus-Cheek at times this season. The 23-year-old will be looking for insurances over his potential involvement in Chelsea’s first team if he is to commit his long-term future to the club whose academy he has successfully graduated from. It will be important for Chelsea to convince him that they are willing to make him a key part of their starting line-up in the next few seasons, if they are to prevent another promising young player with a bright future leaving the club. Loftus-Cheek will be in demand if Chelsea are unable to convince him to sign a new deal, but should they secure his future they will have guaranteed themselves a very useful addition to their midfield for the next few years.