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In a bid to secure first team football this season, Chelsea midfielder Ruben Loftus-Cheek was offered to West Ham United on transfer deadline day.
However, the club decided against the move and instead signed 23-year-old central midfielder Alex Kral from Spartak Moscow on a season-long loan.
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Speaking on talkSPORT, broadcaster Alex Crook exclusively revealed: “Ruben Loftus-Cheek, who of course was out on loan at Fulham last season, was offered to West Ham.
“They said no. They were offered the chance to sign Ruben Loftus-Cheek, he stays at Chelsea.”
It was a disappointing outcome for the Chelsea youth product who is still yet to realise his full potential since making his debut for the club.
That came in a substitute appearance in a 1-1 draw against Manchester City in January 2015 and he went on to feature a few more times in the Premier League that season.
With the quality that Chelsea possess in that central midfield area, Loftus-Cheek will have a tough task on his hands to force his way into manager Thomas Tuchel’s plans.
The club already have N’golo Kante, Mateo Kovacic and Jorginho in that position and strengthened it further by bringing in Atletico Madrid midfielder Saul Niguez on a season-long loan.
“Chelsea now have four really brilliant options in the middle of the park and Tuchel needs options around the pitch,” Blues fan and talkSPORT presenter Jason Cundy said.
“If you look at his squad, that’s what he has.”
The Hammers’ decision to turn down Loftus-Cheek, meanwhile, also shows the progression they have made under manager David Moyes where in previous years they might have snapped at the chance if they were offered a Chelsea player.
Now they have a clear identity about them and with Kral joining as well as Croatia’s Nikola Vlasic in addition to Kurt Zouma, they know exactly the type of player they want and need.
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