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Chelsea news: Sam Allardyce predicts end of Blues career for one player
CHELSEA midfielder Ruben Loftus-Cheek must leave the club on a permanent deal in January.
That is the honest opinion of former England manager Sam Allardyce.
Loftus-Cheek spent last season on loan at Crystal Palace and his form earned him a spot in Gareth Southgate’s England squad.
He went to the World Cup with the Three Lions and played a key role in helping the team reach the semi finals.
However, he has not been a regular under Maurizio Sarri at Chelsea since returning to the club he came through the academy at.
If I were Loftus-Cheek I would be battering the door down in January and saying, ‘that’s it, I need to get away’
Loftus-Cheek has made just three appearances this season, with his only start coming in the 1-0 Europa League win over Vidi last week.
He was left out of the England squad for the upcoming Nations League matches against Croatia and Spain.
And Sam Allardyce says the time is now right for the 22-year-old to leave Chelsea for good.
“I’m disappointed for Loftus-Cheek,” Allardyce told talkSPORT.
“Chelsea have told him he’s going to be a part of the team this season and, if that is the case, they haven’t lived up to that yet.
“What he did for Crystal Palace last season and for England at the World Cup, I thought this would be a big season for him at Chelsea, but it’s simply not happening.
“If I were Loftus-Cheek I would be battering the door down in January and saying, ‘that’s it, I need to get away’.
“And not on loan, get away from Chelsea properly and build his own career.
“He’s had the taste of playing first team football at Palace and obviously he loves Chelsea, but it’s not happening for him there.
“He’s got to play. He’s too talented not to play, we’ve all seen that.”
Loftus-Cheek has played just 35 times for Chelsea in all competitions since his debut in 2014.
He has scored two goals for the club, the same amount of times he found the back of the net during his spell at Palace.