Loftus-Cheek set for Schalke loan switch
SCHALKE are interested in taking Chelsea midfielder Ruben Loftus-Cheek on loan until the end of the season. The German transfer window does not close until the end of August and Schalke are ready to tempt Chelsea into letting them have the England international for the rest of the campaign. Loftus-Cheek did not start against Huddersfield at the weekend and it remains to be seen how much first-team football he will be afforded by manager Maurizio Sarri this season. Chelsea want to keep Loftus-Cheek but an offer from Schalke — or any other European club — to take him on a temporary basis would leave the Blues with a decision to make. The signing of Mateo Kovacic on loan from Real Madrid has added further competition for Loftus-Cheek, though the exit of Tiemoue Bakayoko has created an extra space in the Chelsea squad. Loftus-Cheek is minded to stay and fight for his place but Kovacic’s arrival could yet force him into a rethink. Meanwhile, Willian insists there is ‘no chance’ he would still be at Chelsea if Antonio Conte had remained in charge. The Brazilian said earlier this month that Conte was ‘very difficult to work with’. Willian has since revealed he turned down Barcelona to stay at Chelsea and, having played 76 minutes of their win at Huddersfield, said he is still at the club because Conte has gone. When asked if he would be at Chelsea had Conte stayed, he told the Evening Standard: ‘No chance. I’m here because I want to play for Chelsea. I will only leave if Chelsea want me to go.’ Willian believes Sarri’s fresh tactical approach can help Chelsea beat Arsenal on Saturday. ‘Now we have a different style, that’s why we can create problems for Arsenal,’ he said.