NEWCASTLE and Brighton are fighting it out to seal a season-long deal for Chelsea’s Ruben Loftus-Cheek.
The midfielder, 21, made just six first-team appearances last season and is desperate for regular top-flight football.
Touted as one of England’s future stars, Loftus-Cheek struggled to make a real impact under Blues bosses Jose Mourinho and Antonio Conte.
But that could turn out in his favour with Rafa Benitez keen to bring him to the Toon.
The former Liverpool and Real Madrid boss was looking at Tammy Abraham.
But he will go to Swansea after penning a new five-year deal at Chelsea earlier this week.
Benitez was urged by former Toon interim manager John Carver to raid the Prem’s top sides for their talents recently.
He told talkSPORT: “You were talking about [Nathaniel] Chalobah and [Ruben] Loftus-Cheek, why don’t they go in and get two or three of those?
“That’ll improve the squad slowly but surely.”
Brighton manager Chris Hughton is also in the market for Loftus-Cheek, who has spent his entire career with the Blues.
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SunSport told you how he was linked with a move to Ligue 1 winners Monaco.
And also that Stoke were contemplating bringing him to the Britannia.
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