Chelsea midfielder Loftus-Cheek prices himself out of Southampton loan transfer due to £173k-a-week wages

SOUTHAMPTON are hopeful of landing one or two players on loan today - but they cannot afford Ruben Loftus-Cheek's £173,000-a-week wages.

Chelsea are prepared to farm out the England man but his salary is too rich for Saints' blood.

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Plus with yesterday's arrival of Ibrahima Diallo for £12.7million, Ralph Hasenhuttl feels he is now well covered in the central midfield positions.

But speaking on possible incomings after Saints' 2-0 win over West Brom, the Austrian said: "We are still hoping to get alternatives in one or two positions.

"We must have a look. I think it will be an interesting 24 hours.

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"We know we have some issues in some positions and if we can get the right package, we are still looking to get another player in.”

It emerged on Saturday Loftus-Cheek, 24, might follow Ross Barkley out of Stamford Bridge as Frank Lampard shakes up his squad and looks to keep them sharp.

Loftus-Cheek is on a stunning £9m-a-year contract but Chelsea are prepared to pay £100k-a-week out of his £173k weekly pay packet to get him a  new temporary home.

Southampton were looking into a deal while others are still considering it before the transfer window shuts tonight.

Aston Villa looked into a move but chose Barkley, who is on MORE.

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There are also suggestions Chelsea would be prepared to offer West Ham Loftus-Cheek AND Germany centre-back Antonio Rudiger in exchange for versatile England star Declan Rice.

Lampard said last week: “I’m very open with Ruben.

"We’ve had a couple of conversations in the past week.

“Ruben’s fit as a fiddle, he can play week in week out if he needs to, coming off the back of a lot of work.

"He would have been playing games and fitter earlier, if it wasn’t for lockdown.

“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.

“If that’s not the right option, he’ll be competitive in this squad as well, because of the quality that he has, and, hopefully, be a big plus for us.”