- Chelsea have no plans to sell Ruben Loftus-Cheek after signing Ross Barkley
- Crystal Palace manager Roy Hodgson admits a desire to sign Loftus-Cheek
- READ MORE: Homegrown youngsters deserve chance in FA Cup replay
Despite the signing of Ross Barkley, Chelsea won’t be selling Ruben Loftus-Cheek in the summer, The Standard reports.
Even with the similarities between the English pair, Chelsea wants the two players to be part of the club’s long term plans.
The uncertainty over Loftus-Cheek’s future comes after Crystal Palace manager Roy Hodgson revealed he wanted to sign the 21-year-old permanently.
Hodgson is quoted by The Standard saying:
“The way Ruben’s been playing for us, he’s a player we’d like to have at our club, there’s no doubt about that.”
However, The Standard understands that Chelsea will block any hopes of Palace signing Loftus-Cheek.
Can Loftus-Cheek fight for his Chelsea place next season?
Chelsea’s midfield places are competitive to say the least. N’Golo Kante, Cesc Fabregas, Timeoue Bakayoko, Danny Drinkwater are the players both Loftus-Cheek and Barkley will have to compete with.
Loftus-Cheek has scored just one goal this season but the Blues academy graduate could still make an impact at the club.
It’s unlikely for the moment, but Loftus-Cheek and Barkley could be the cornerstone of our future teams.