Ruben Loftus Cheek Wanted By Crystal Palace On Loan As Everton Rule Out Ross Barkley Signing

Ruben Loftus-Cheek is the subject of loan interest from Crystal Palace this summer, while Everton are not interested in a reunion with Ross Barkley, according to reports. 

Chelsea’s midfield is currently stacked with options and Thomas Tuchel has a decision on his hands over who he will keep in his team for the 2022/23 season. 

The new campaign is under a week away and no departures in the midfield department have been sanctioned or completed yet, but lots of interest is being shown in several of the Chelsea players. 

Current options: N’Golo Kante, Mateo Kovacic, Jorginho, Conor Gallagher, Ruben Loftus-Cheek, Ross Barkley, Billy Gilmour

Chelsea's N'Golo Kante portrait in action during Udinese Calcio vs Chelsea FC. (Alamy)

Gilmour is linked with a move away, while Kante, Jorginho, Kovacic and Gallagher are all being relied on by Tuchel for the upcoming season. 

Barkley has been linked with a switch to Goodison Park to return to his boyhood club and it was claimed he was in advanced talks over a transfer this summer. 

Frank Lampard, who he worked with at Chelsea, is a big fan and a move looked to be on the cards. 

But The Athletic report that he is not on Everton’s agenda and they are not interested in signing the English midfielder.

The 28-year-old didn’t travel to Italy for Chelsea’s final games of pre-season to face Udinese at the weekend, which casts doubt over his future, with no reason given for his absence. 

He also didn’t feature in either of the games against Bromley or Dorking Wanderers that were scheduled for other Chelsea XI’s at the weekend. 

If a suitable offer comes in, Barkley will leave ahead of his contract expiring next summer. 

Meanwhile, Loftus-Cheek is pushing to play a role in Tuchel’s team next term, but he has received interest from a former loan club. 

Crystal Palace, where he spent the 2017/28 season on loan, are showing interest in re-signing the midfielder on loan again, according to Alan Nixon of The Sun. 

Ruben Loftus Cheek during a Premier League match at the Etihad Stadium. (Alamy)

Patrick Vieira’s side had Conor Gallagher on loan last season and appear to be ready to go back to the Stamford Bridge outfit for another player.

They were pursuing Wolves’ Morgan Gibbs-White but have grown frustrated, now turning their attention to Loftus-Cheek. 

Loftus-Cheek featured at wing-back against Udinese on Saturday morning and proved a real threat on the right-hand side, offering Tuchel with a decision to make over whether he can play as the back-up to Reece James if required and not in his preferred central midfield position. 

The window closes on 1 September, so there is plenty of time for Chelsea to resolve the players’ future. Barkley is more likely to go, but work is still to be done if transfers are to be secured this summer.