Looks like Chelsea are about to finish up another loan deal for one of their prospects -- although this time it's not for a particularly big name. 20-year-old midfielder Conor Clifford looks bound for League One, having just confirmed that he'll be dispatched to Portsmouth should they get their financial situation sorted out:
for all the people asking if it was me playing for Portsmouth Fc 2day then it was! Looking to go on loan for the season when they are sorted
— conor clifford (@conorclifford91) August 4, 2012
I'm not entirely sure that Clifford's ever going to break into the first team, but if he's going to make that breakthrough he absolutely needs to have a successful loan spell. Portsmouth, assuming that they still exist in a month, are a reasonable destination for him. They need players badly, and loans make the most sense for them to restock their squad. Clifford's also familiar with the league, having played there on loan for (small) parts of the last two seasons.
It'd be really nice if he could find a place as a first-team player for a year. Good luck to Conor in both securing this deal and then excelling next season.