Frank Lampard ready to let reported Aston Villa target Ruben Loftus-Cheek leave

Add as preferred source on Google

Chelsea manager Frank Lampard has given Ruben Loftus-Cheek the green light to leave Stamford Bridge, amid speculation linking the player to Aston Villa.

The midfielder has made just one appearances for the Blues so far in 2020/21 having started against Brighton in the first Premier League game.

Since then, he has been omitted from three matchday squads, leading to talk of an exit.

The Telegraph recently claimed that Aston Villa are looking at a possible loan move for the England international, as well as Ross Barkley.

Fans may now be permitted to get excited, with Lampard swinging the door open for Loftus-Cheek to depart.

He said (quoted by Goal): “I’m very open with Ruben. We’ve had a couple of conversations in the last week. He’s fit as a fiddle so he can play week in, week out. He needs to play. He’s done a lot of work now.

“He would have been playing earlier if it wasn’t for lockdown and restart. There’s a possibility that Ruben may go out [on loan] to play games because I think that would be great for him. We hold him in very high regard here. I certainly do and that could be a good option for him.”

Lampard went on the sing the star’s praises, calling him ‘versatile’ and somebody that offers ‘something different’.

TBR’s View – Villa’s chance to strike

This is a clear indicator that Loftus-Cheek is available, and Villa should move quickly if they do want him.

Because one gets the feeling that he won’t be short of suitors.

Loftus-Cheek is quite a unique player, whose physicality and technical quality set him apart from a lot of young central midfielders.

The likes of Southampton and West Ham United have been mentioned so Dean Smith ought to work quickly.