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Following a career spent falling just short of ever becoming a world class center back, the man with the fun name to say Aitor Karanka became Jose Mourinho's assistant manager for three years at Real Madrid. While he stayed on after The Special One, once Uncle Carlo brought the rest of his staff along from PSG (hi Clem!), he saw the writing on the wall and decided to strike out on his own.
It took him a few months - during which time he was linked more than once with a Chelsea job in some shape or form - but eventually he landed a nice gig with mid-table Championship side Middlesborough. After winning just one of his first five matches in charge (losing three), he's now gone unbeaten in four (winning three). Go on, Aitor!
In an effort to bolster his side, like many other clubs at that level, he's looking for loans from top level clubs. Chelsea in this case is an obvious supplier; the Mourinho connection clearly an advantage in any potential deal. One player who has caught Karanka's eye is Nathaniel Chalobah. Good eye, Aitor!
"We are working on a lot of players. Just because I have a relationship with Jose, it is being said that I want 20 or more of his players. It's not true, Chalobah. Chalobah is a very good player."
"We are working with Chelsea on players, but a number of other teams too, to try to improve our squad too."
-Aitor Karanka; source: Sky
After an excellent season at Watford last year, Chalobah's seventeen-week spell at Nottingham Forest has been, well, not quite excellent. With only seven starts and five substitute appearances to his name, he is expected to return to Stamford Bridge soon and hopefully find a more compatible assignment for the second half of the season.
Even if the Chalobah deal doesn't work out - or even if it does - Boro could also provide an attractive destination for a few other potential loanees as well, like, say Kenneth Omeruo.
