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Ruben Loftus-Cheek is thinking about next summer’s World Cup, and that could lead to some interesting developments regarding his future.
As MilanNews reports, Loftus-Cheek wants to try in the second half of the season to force his way into Thomas Tuchel’s squad. The squad sizes increased to 26 for the 2022 World Cup in Qatar but could even expand to 30 for next summer’s tournament.
Goobye on the horizon?
To do so, he will need to play more frequently than he is at the moment. At Milan, he has played 15 official matches this season, scoring one goal (against Lecce in round two) for a total of 715 minutes.
Massimiliano Allegri has used him in various roles, both from the start and during the match, placing him as a centre-forward, a midfielder and even as a wing-back against Torino on Monday. The truth though is that – when everyone is fit – Allegri does not consider him a guaranteed starter.
A supporting role is certainly not the ideal one for a World Cup call-up and this is why the upcoming January transfer window could come to the English midfielder’s aid. There are rumours of interest from Premier League clubs, and a potential swap deal with Napoli involving Lorenzo Lucca.
Loftus-Cheek needs game time, and if he can’t get it at Milan, he’ll have to look elsewhere to pursue his target. A possible permanent sale could also be a boost for the Rossoneri’s plans too, given they want a striker, centre-back and a wing-back.
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