Ruben Loftus-Cheek Keen to Stay and Fight for Place at Chelsea Amid Loan Interest From Schalke
Chelsea midfielder Ruben Loftus-Cheek looks set to reject a loan move to Bundesliga outfit Schalke, with the England international keen to force his way into new manager Maurizio Sarri's first-team plans.
The 22-year-old spent last season on loan with Crystal Palace, impressing in south London with his pace, power and ability on the ball, despite suffering with ankle trouble for a number of months.
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His performances earned him a place in England's World Cup squad, where Loftus-Cheek continued to impress after a number of composed and assured performances. He has been linked with a move away from Stamford Bridge despite his good form, with the Blues' abundance of riches in midfield providing stiff competition in central midfield.
Loftus-Cheek is set to turn down the opportunity to leave however, with The Guardian reporting that he is keen to stay and fight for his place - opting against a possible loan deal with Schalke, who are rumoured to be interested in his services.
It's understood that Loftus-Cheek feels he can force his way into Chelsea's first-team, with midfield competitor Tiémoué Bakayoko expected to leave the club in the next couple of days to join Serie A heavyweights Milan on loan.
His departure would leave Loftus-Cheek competing against new arrivals Jorginho and Mateo Kovacic, as well as N'Golo Kante, Cesc Fabregas, Ross Barkley and Danny Drinkwater - though Loftus-Cheek is seemingly unfazed by that prospect.
He earned praise from Sarri following his performance in the Blues' 3-0 friendly win over Lyon last week, though the Italian did add that he needed to improve from a tactical perspective. Loftus-Cheek even came off the bench for a brief 20-minute cameo against Huddersfield on Saturday, though it must be noted that neither Fabregas or Kovacic were available for selection.
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He will now have to make a firm decision on his future, with the club potentially opening to letting another promising talent head out on loan for regular first-team action.
