Former Chelsea striker Tony Cascarino is predicting big things for loaned-out youngster Ruben Loftus-Cheek.
Ruben Loftus-Cheek looks like the next Michael Ballack and will be at Chelsea next season, according to ex-Blue Tony Cascarino.
The 22-year-old has not had the easiest of times making a first-team breakthrough at Stamford Bridge but may yet get a chance after impressing on loan at Crystal Palace this term.
Having shone in the 5-0 win over Leicester City at the weekend, Loftus-Cheek is attracting plenty of attention again as the summer draws nearer and a decision must be made over his future.
Garth Crooks thinks the England international should stay on for another year at Palace, but Cascarino believes he is already good enough to be first-choice partner for N’Golo Kante in Chelsea’s midfield.
“He’s Michael Ballack of the midfield,” Cascarino told talkSPORT.
“He can be an attacker, he shields the ball brilliantly, and for Wilf [Zaha’s] goal… his tight control in possession – he does it brilliantly. You cannot ignore him.
“He won’t be the Mo Salah, the Kevin De Bruyne that’s let go by Chelsea.
“If any club thinks they are going to snatch him away from Chelsea on the cheap, that is not going to happen to Loftus-Cheek for me. think he’ll be a Chelsea player next year.”
Cascarino also wrote about Loftus-Cheek’s Chelsea future in his column for the Times, saying: “He could be in the Chelsea team now instead of Tiemoue Bakayoko — he is as good as the Frenchman signed for £40 million — and I think he would be a good midfield partner for N’Golo Kante.”
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