Crystal Palace boss Roy Hodgson has declared an interest in signing Ruben Loftus-Cheek in January.

The Chelsea midfielder is struggling for playing time under Maurizio Sarri and a return to Selhurst Park, where he spent last season on loan, has been touted in the press.

And Hodgson has confirmed he would be interested in working with the 22-year-old once again.

"It's a hypothesis that Chelsea are not happy with him, that Chelsea are not considering him to be a very important member of their first-team squad, and I don't like to discuss players in that respect.

"What I am prepared to say, of course, and I've said it on many occasions, is that Ruben Loftus-Cheek did an outstanding job for us when he came here, he really, for us, answered all the questions that we hoped he would answer.

"Luckily for us, and even more so him, it got him recognised by the national team and he found himself in Russia representing England, which was a perfect end to the season that he had had with us.

"So, we admire him, we like him very much and wish him well and of course, like a lot of other clubs I'm sure, when the day comes when he becomes available for transfer we will be sticking our nose into that.

"But, whether we will get him again, that's another matter. Who knows, we'll see."