Ruben Loftus-Cheek will ask to leave Chelsea on loan with Brighton still keen on deal

Ruben Loftus-Cheek will ask to leave Chelsea on loan next season after growing increasingly concerned over his lack of game time under Antonio Conte.

Loftus-Cheek has started just four games in all competitions under the Italian this term, none of which have been in the League.

The 21-year-old was rated in the England set-up above Dele Alli at the start of last season.

But Alli’s career has blossomed over the past two campaigns due to regular first-team football at Tottenham, becoming a full England international plus winning the PFA Young Player of the Year Award twice.

Loftus-Cheek is still highly regarded at Chelsea but has had limited opportunity to impress under Conte, who has led the club to the Premier League title in his first year in charge.

The England Under-21 international hoped to leave on loan in January only for Conte to block the move as he wanted him to cover for any injuries.

A number of clubs showed an interest at the time including Watford, Middlesbrough and Swansea.

Standard Sport revealed that Brighton were also in the hunt and it is understood that he is a target once again.

They stand a greater chance of success now that they have won promotion to the top flight, which is the division where Chelsea will want Loftus-Cheek to play.

Chelsea will only allow Loftus-Cheek to join another side if they promise to play him on a regular basis.

Significantly, Conte dropped a huge hint following the 4-3 win over Watford on Monday night, that he would allow the midfielder, who made his professional debut at Chelsea three years ago, to leave.

He said: “Ruben is a really good player and he is an important prospect for me. We have to take the best decision for him next season, the best solution.

“But for sure, Ruben is a young player, from our Academy with a good prospect to become a Chelsea player.”

Chelsea are looking to strengthen in midfield during the close season and have made Monaco star Tiemoue Bakayoko their first choice. He will cost a minimum of £40million.

Loftus-Cheek still has four years left on his contract, which is worth around £60,000 a week.