According to reports in The Times, Chelsea midfielder Ruben Loftus-Cheek is ready to demand a loan move away from the club this summer.
What’s the word, then?
Well, the 21-year-old would have hoped to get more first team opportunities under Antonio Conte at Stamford Bridge this season having signed a new long-term contract last season and also being one of the Blues’ only youngsters to have never been sent out on loan, but it hasn’t been the case.
The England Under-21 midfielder has grown frustrated with life at Stamford Bridge and will tell the Italian manager that he wants to leave on a temporary basis if he isn’t given more of a chance next term.
How many times has he featured this season?
Despite being one of the club’s most highly-rated young players, Loftus-Cheek has made just 11 appearances in all competitions – with all six of his Premier League outings coming from the substitutes’ bench – this season.
The latest blow came on Monday night when he wasn’t even named in the squad for visit of Watford despite Conte making nine changes to his starting line-up from the side that wrapped up the Premier League title on Friday night.
Why hasn’t he played more?
With no Champions League football, Chelsea have had fewer games this season and it has affected the midfielder.
Conte has had a settled partnership of N’Golo Kante and Nemanja Matic in the middle of the park for much of the campaign and hasn’t felt the need to change it.
Does he still have a future at the club?
He should do, yes.
Having signed a new long-term deal this season, Loftus-Cheek is said to be seen as the next youth product after John Terry to become a regular in the side.
But perhaps the club believes that he needs to gain more experience out on loan first in order to do that.
What’s the verdict, then?
Well, it seems that Loftus-Cheek has a long-term future with the champions and that he needs regular first team football in order to boost his chances of becoming a Chelsea starter in years to come.
A move away to someone like newly-promoted Brighton and Hove Albion would be a low pressure and ideal.