Chelsea midfielder Ruben Loftus-Cheek is poised to join Fulham on a season-long loan as Frank Lampard continues to trim his squad.
The 24-year-old started Chelsea's opening day victory over Brighton, but has not featured in the top flight since after failing to make an impact at the Amex.
According to the Telegraph, he is set to join strugglers Fulham on a season-long loan in order to get game time and match fitness under his belt.
Loftus-Cheek currently pockets £150,000 a week in wages at Stamford Bridge, and Chelsea will subsidise his lucrative salary packet in order to ensure he gets some much-needed top flight football.
The England international spent nine months on the sidelines with a serious achilles injury, and the Premier League was then paused because of coronavirus upon his return, meaning he was restricted to just two top flight starts during the 2019/20 campaign.
Loftus-Cheek is held in high regard by Chelsea and Frank Lampard, but both the player and coach see going out on loan as the best option in order to help his match fitness.
The Chelsea youth product has attracted interest from Southampton and West Ham - but the duo have struggled to meet his wage demands, while Aston Villa were also linked but instead opted to sign Ross Barkley - who enjoyed a stunning debut during Villa's 7-2 victory over Liverpool.
"I spoke with Ruben last week and there is an angle of this where he needs to play regular football," Lampard said on Friday (via Goal): "With Ross, it was a similar angle, even though he has played more and hasn’t had Ruben’s injury.
"With Ruben now, I will analyse it within the squad and what feels best. Ruben can really contribute here, but if it feels like him going as well, then that’s something I’ll consider over the next few days.”
Source : 90min