Chelsea’s transfer window so far has certainly been a frustrating one, with the Blues failing to get any major deals over the line and being handed a huge blow last week as Manchester United won the race for Everton striker Romelu Lukaku. Fortunately though, there’s still plenty of time ahead for Antonio Conte’s side.

The Blues seem intent on trimming their squad this summer, with Nemanja Matic and Diego Costa extremely likely to leave Stamford Bridge, and the latest reports today have suggested that another midfielder could be on the way out- and it’s a deal that’s been needed for some time.

The Telegraph states new Crystal Palace manager Frank De Boer is closing in on his first signing for the Eagles, with Chelsea set to approve a loan move for midfielder Ruben Loftus-Cheek in the next few days- handing the England U21 international the first-team football he needs to further his development.

Whilst an array of young starlets have spent time away from Stamford Bridge on-loan, securing first-team football elsewhere, Loftus-Cheek has remained in West London- spending the majority of the time on the fringes of the first-team but never quite staking a claim for regular opportunities.

The 21-year-old has 22 Premier League appearances to date since making his debut three years ago but, remarkably, that’s just five appearances more than he’s made for England’s U21 side- and it’s clear a spell on-loan to a fellow Premier League side could bring the best out of the highly-rated midfielder.

Chelsea’s youth policy has often been criticised, with the Blues accused by many of hoarding talent and sending the majority of their starlets away on-loan, but Loftus-Cheek is the sort of player that could have a big future ahead at Stamford Bridge but, crucially, he needs a loan move to provide him with the experience he’ll need to break into Antonio Conte’s side in the long-term.

Interest in Loftus-Cheek was high, with Newcastle United, Southampton and Brighton all expressing an interest in the midfielder, which shows just how highly-valued the midfielder is- and a breakthrough season this term could help him secure regular opportunities upon his return to Stamford Bridge next summer.

Despite Chelsea needing a new first-team midfielder to partner N’Golo Kante, Loftus-Cheek has been overlooked and that means he definitely needs a loan move to improve his standing in the eyes of Conte and Crystal Palace is the ideal opportunity for him.