Crystal Palace boss Roy Hodgson admits he's desperate to keep hold of Chelsea midfielder Ruben Loftus-Cheek.

Loftus-Cheek has been crucial in Hodgson leading Palace to survival when the threat of relegation had been so great.

Asked if they needed to be prepared to spend just to stand still, the 70-year-old said: "Absolutely, you don't replace the quality of players like Ruben Loftus-Cheek very easily.

"We have to be realistic and unless some sort of deal can be struck with Chelsea that means he can stay here, we will have to accept that.

"He will be a very difficult player to replace, because of his quality. I don't think we can really do anything yet because it totally depends on Chelsea's plans. Until we know what Chelsea's plans are, we can't have any plans.

"All we can do is monitor the situation and were he to become available, either to buy or on a further loan, I would be hoping we would not only be throwing our hat in the ring, we would be doing everything we possibly could to get our name out there.

"He has enjoyed being here and we have enjoyed having him.

"Chelsea will say it was a good move to loan him to Crystal Palace because he has had a good season and has gone to not only being a regular Premier League team member, to being a player who has got a place in the England team. That's a pretty good development for a youngish player."