Chelsea midfielder Ruben Loftus-Cheek is reportedly on the radars of cash-rich Newcastle United who are in the market for reinforcements in January.
According to a report from 90min.com, Newcastle United have their eyes on Chelsea star Ruben Loftus-Cheek as a potential option to bolster their midfield unit in the upcoming January transfer window.
A product of the Chelsea youth academy, Loftus-Cheek has failed to nail down a spot for himself in the starting XI despite showing great promise and having been around the senior team for a number of years now. The 25-year-old impressed away on loan at Crystal Palace in 2017/18, post which he got a look-in in the side under Maurizio Sarri in the subsequent season.
However, an injury he picked up late in the campaign ruled him out for most of 2019/20 before he was loaned out to Fulham last season. After a middling spell with the Cottagers, Loftus-Cheek is back at Chelsea but has been unable to carve out a place in Thomas Tuchel’s plans, although he has shown some signs of good form in the sporadic chances that have come his way.
Nonetheless, with regular game-time not forthcoming, the England international has been linked with an exit in January, with Newcastle United now emerging as a suitor for the midfielder.
The Magpies have become the big players in the market heading into the January transfer window thanks to the massive takeover of the club earlier this month, which has meant that there is cash to be splashed to strengthen the squad. Considering that they are languishing in the 19th spot in the Premier League, it goes without saying that reinforcements are the need of the hour.
Midfield is an area where Newcastle could certainly do with more quality considering that Joe Willock has failed to reproduce the form from last season while Jonjo Shelvey continues to be unreliable and erratic. With the likes of Sean Longstaff and Jeff Hendrick also not performing all too well, someone like Loftus-Cheek has the potential to be a good addition for the Tyneside outfit.
Able to drive past opponents with the ball at his feet from the centre of the park, the 25-year-old would provide an added attacking presence on the field alongside the likes of Miguel Almiron and Allan Saint-Maximin. However, considering that he is slowly forcing his way into the side at Stamford Bridge, a move for him, especially in the January transfer window could be difficult to pull off.
Alternatively, Loftus-Cheek’s Chelsea teammate, Ross Barkley, who is also on the radars of Newcastle, could prove to be a much more achievable target for the Magpies. It remains to be seen if they do end up raiding the Blues for either of the two English midfielders come January.
