Report: Southampton linked with loan transfer of Chelsea’s Ruben Loftus-Cheek

Another hour day, another central midfielder linked to Southampton.

This time, it’s Chelsea product Ruben Loftus-Cheek.

According to various outlets including the Daily Mail, Southampton are among the clubs who are linked with the loan signing of Loftus-Cheek.

Fellow Premier League teams Aston Villa and West Ham are those mentioned as being interested in signing the Chelsea man.

The England midfielder has fallen down the pecking order at Stamford Bridge despite starting the Blues’ first Premier League match of the season.

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Loftus-Cheek wasn’t included in the Chelsea squad for their game against Liverpool last week, nor against Barnsley in the Carabao Cup on Wednesday.

Saints are being linked to a string of central midfielders after losing Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg to Tottenham, and Harrison Reed and Mario Lemina to Fulham.

Earlier in the week, Saints were linked to the loan transfer of Everton’s Tom Davies. Before that, Leicester City’s Hamza Choudhury was a reported transfer target.

Southampton manager Ralph Hasenhuttl said that Southampton will make some signings before the transfer windows ends in October - specifically mentioning at least one loan signing.

When does the summer transfer window open and close?

The summer transfer window opened on 27 July and closes at 23:00 on 5 October.

A domestic-only window for trades between Premier League and EFL clubs will run from 5 October until 16 October at 17:00.