Chelsea have another concern on the squad selection front ahead of the weekend’s trip to city rivals Arsenal with Ruben Loftus-Cheek recording a positive test for COVID-19.
The England international midfield man is now back in the Chelsea first-team fold after his season-long loan stint at Fulham last time around which did not give the results that were intended by both parties involved.
Loftus-Cheek’s future has been the subject of much speculation over the course of this summer’s transfer window amid the talk that Chelsea are open to allowing the player to head out the exit door as Thomas Tuchel remains keen on trimming his squad size.
However, there has been no approach from Chelsea so far this summer to ship out the 25-year-old on another loan spell away from Stamford Bridge which could mean that his future lies with the Blues for the 2021-22 campaign which is now underway.
Speaking to reporters as quoted by Goal, the Chelsea gaffer Tuchel admitted that Loftus-Cheek will be sidelined for the upcoming Emirates Stadium showdown with the Englishman currently in isolation following his testing positive for the coronavirus.
“Ruben has, unfortunately, had a positive test on Thursday. He is in isolation and following the protocol and that’s why he isn’t in the team.”
