Leicester aim to sign £150k-a-week EPL star in summer
By Will Kennedy
The Foxes will be wary of Palace’s interest; Loftus-Cheek played his best football for the Eagles at Selhurst Park whilst on loan at the club in the 2017-18 season. Despite several injury issues that saw him miss 19 games that season, RLC still enjoyed a breakthrough campaign, scoring twice and assisting five more. His performances earnt him a place in the England squad for the 2018 World Cup, in which he started three games.
Returning to his parent club after the tournament, Loftus-Cheek found himself involved with the first team but was struck down with a serious ACL injury in May 2019. What followed was a gruelling 280-day recovery, eventually returning to the pitch in February 2020. Still struggling to nail down a starting spot at Stamford Bridge, he joined Fulham on loan for the 2020-21 season.
Unlike his time at Crystal Palace, RLC struggled alongside his teammates with the club finishing the season relegated in 18th, 11 points from safety. It wasn’t the career boost he needed, and he returned to Chelsea still fighting for his chance.
A move away from the Bridge could be the fresh boost his career needs. There is no doubting Loftus-Cheek’s quality on the ball, he just needs consistent football in order for him to excel. If Leicester could strike a deal, it would be a significant coup for the club. Whilst RLC isn’t as technical as Tielemans, he certainly would be a good man to replace the Belgian.
The issue for the Foxes would be his hefty £150,000-a-week salary. Leicester City wouldn’t be able to match his Chelsea wages, and the midfielder faces having to take a wage-cut if he leaves. How much Leicester would be willing to pay is unknown, but it’s likely that any deal would put him into the upper echelon of earners at the King Power.
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Whilst Loftus-Cheek offers a significant presence when he plays, recent injury history and his high wages should leave Leicester cautious about a deal. They will need a high-quality player if they are to replace Youri Tielemans, but there will be other options out there. The link to RLC is a positive sign, but it should be the start of their midfielder chase, not the end.