Ruben Loftus-Cheek is not interested in joining Bundesliga outfit Schalke on loan and will fight for his place at Chelsea, claims The Guardian.
The England international spent last season on loan at Crystal Palace and worked his way into Gareth Southgate’s squad for the 2018 World Cup.
Eagles manager Roy Hodgson has already revealed the club failed to re-sign the powerful midfielder and now Schalke have shown an interest.
The transfer window for English clubs shut last week but Germany, Spanish and French sides still have until the end of August to finalise their squads for the new season.
Chelsea bolstered their midfield options by signing Jorginho and Mateo Kovacic in the summer but Loftus-Cheek is still determined to fight for his place.
The 22-year-old cut short his post-World Cup holiday to return to Chelsea and impress Maurizio Sarri but the Italian has still bolstered his midfield options.
N’Golo Kante, Jorginho and Kovacic are expected to emerge as Chelsea’s first choice midfield trio under Sarri, leaving Loftus-Cheek to battle Cesc Fabregas and Danny Drinkwater as back-up.
Of Premier League players that made at least 20 appearances last season, only four completed more dribbles per 90 than Loftus-Cheek (3.5).
