I can't stagnate at Chelsea any more, says Newcastle £25m target Ruben Loftus-Cheek

The England midfielder spent last season out on loan at Crystal Palace after his opportunities at Stamford Bridge became limited.

Newcastle boss Rafa Benitez is a firm admirer of the player, and would be interested in a loan move for the 22-year-old this summer.

“I can’t stagnate and have another season on the bench,” Loftus-Cheek said. “That’s the key for me next season regarding where I end up. I want to play - I want to play as much as I can.

“Even this past season just gone I didn’t play as much as I would have liked to because of the injuries and stuff."

Chelsea have a wealth of midfield options at their disposal, having signed England internationals Danny Drinkwater and Ross Barkley last season, to complement the likes of N'Golo Kante, Cesc Fabregas and Tiemoue Bakayoko.

Loftus-Cheek could be available on a permanent deal, but a price tag of £25million is likely to be too much for Newcastle. A loan deal may be more likely, with Benitez looking also at Chelsea youngster Kasey Palmer and winger Kenedy, who had a successful spell at the Magpies after joining in January.

LIVE: Premier League transfer blogLoftus-Cheek, meanwhile, is adamant that he wants to make the most of next season and not become stuck in Chelsea's reserves.

“Ever since I was in the Chelsea academy, I’ve had that awareness that people were saying I would be the first one to break through since John Terry,” Loftus-Cheek added.

“I believed I could but the opportunities didn’t quite come for me. It’s hard to keep training at your best but I made sure I did for when the time came, or when I did get opportunities like at Palace."