Frank Lampard confirms Chelsea star could leave Stamford Bridge this week

Frank Lampard has confirmed Ruben Loftus-Cheek could leave Chelsea this week.

Reports in England last week indicated that eight Premier League clubs were interested in the midfielder.

The 24-year-old has not featured for Chelsea after a disappointing performance in their season opener against Brighton.

Dean Smith’s Villa side have shown a keen interest – and are also looking at Loftus-Cheek’s team-mate Ross Barkley.

But West Ham would give Loftus-Cheek an opportunity to stay in London.

The Blues boss told Football London: “I’m very open with Ruben.

“We’ve had a couple of conversations in the last week.

“He’s fit as a fiddle so he can play week in week out.

“He needs to play, he’s done a lot of work now. He would have been playing earlier if it wasn’t for lockdown and restart.

“There’s a possibility that Ruben may go out to play games because I think that would be great for him.

“We hold him in very high regard here. I certainly do and that could be a good option for him.”