Chelsea loanee Loftus-Cheek starred for Palace on Saturday.
The 22-year-old has been in and out of Roy Hodgson’s side this season since joining the club on a season-long loan from Chelsea last summer, with injuries preventing him from developing any proper consistency.
But the England international shined when given the chance on Saturday, as Palace confirmed their Premier League status for another season with an excellent comeback over Stoke City.
Goals from James McArthur and Patrick van Aanholt cancelled out Xherdan Shaqiri’s opener, but it was Loftus-Cheek who starred in the middle of the park to help Palace gain all three points. Crooks was full of praise, urging Palace to sign him.
“The first thing Roy Hodgson must do, above all else now Crystal Palace have secured their Premier League status, is sign Ruben Loftus-Cheek on a permanent basis,” Crooks said.
“Chelsea do not appear to have the time or inclination to develop this talent any more than they did Kevin de Bruyne or Mohamed Salah. The on-loan Chelsea midfielder didn’t just rain on Stoke City’s parade, he sunk it.
“It was painful to watch. The Palace midfielder is looking more the perfect England replacement for the injured Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain with every game.”
From midfield, the two-time England cap has impressed, having a hand in seven goals in just 24 league and cup appearances with two strikes against Stoke earlier in the season and most recent Leicester – as well as providing five assists.
It remains to be seen if Chelsea will allow Loftus-Cheek to leave permanently this summer, with three years remaining on his contract at Stamford Bridge which the Telegraph claim is worth £60,000 a week.
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