Monaco ready to become perfect fit for Chelsea star

Ruben Loftus-Cheek may yet see regular first team action this season after it emerged that Ligue 1 outfit Monaco are interested in securing the 22-year-old’s services on loan, according to The Sun.

The England international was in Gareth Southgate’s World Cup squad over the summer but under new Chelsea boss Maurizio Sarri he has found himself behind compatriot Ross Barkley in the pecking order.

The youngster was not even included in the match day squad for the victory over Arsenal last weekend and has been told he must be patient in order to break into the Blues starting line-up this season.

Loftus-Cheek is understandably keen to see more minutes after a successful loan spell at Crystal Palace last season, but with the Premier League transfer window now closed in terms of arrivals, if he is to go out on a temporary basis again he would either have to drop down to the Championship or look for opportunities abroad.

Monaco would certainly be a very tempting proposition for the midfielder, with the chance to play Champions League football next season a big draw, and Leonardo Jardim is keen to bolster a midfield that has been stripped of its parts in recent years.

Chelsea are among the clubs to have done so, signing Tiemoue Bakayoko last year, while Bernardo Silva left for Manchester City in the same summer. Fabinho and Thomas Lemar have also now left the French runners-up, with apparent Blues target Aleksandr Gloving among those to replace the outbound quartet for a club that looks to sign young players and sell them on for big profits.

While the latter wouldn’t be possible in Loftus-Cheek’s case, should a loan deal be agreed he certainly fits the Monaco mould, having played across the midfield for Palace last season, starting 21 league games and completing an impressive 3.5 dribbles per 90 minutes.