Maurizio Sarri: 'Ruben Loftus-Cheek not leaving Chelsea'

Chelsea boss Maurizio Sarri has insisted that Ruben Loftus-Cheek will not be leaving the club on loan during the January transfer window.

Loftus-Cheek, 22, impressed on loan at Crystal Palace last season before helping England reach the semi-finals of the 2018 World Cup.

The midfielder was strongly linked with another short-term move away from Stamford Bridge during the summer, but he ultimately remained in London.

Loftus-Cheek is yet to start a Premier League match this season, although he recently hit a hat-trick against BATE Borisov in the Europa League.

There have been suggestions that the Englishman could depart Chelsea at the start of 2019, but Sarri insisted that will not be the case before discussing the midfielder's potential.

"Ruben in October played four matches out of five. I think at the moment the situation is not for a loan of course. He has improved, but he needs to improve more from the tactical point of view," Sarri told reporters.

"The rest is good: he has great physical characteristics, he is fast, solid, he has impact, great characteristics. Technically he is very good and I think if he wants to play like a midfielder he has to improve in the defensive phase. But the potential is great."

Chelsea will welcome Palace to Stamford Bridge in the Premier League on Sunday afternoon.