Multiple clubs eyeing up Wallace on loan

There's been plenty of focus on the loanees so far this summer, but one man who's largely escaped the all-seeing eye of the footballing world is Brazilian right back Wallace, who's been out with Fluminense since we acquired him last winter. What news on the Wallace front?

Wallace is leaving Fluminense on Tuesday and I think it's important to say that he will go to England in early July. Our intention is that Wallace stays at Chelsea during his first season there but it will depend on what Jose Mourinho decides.

A loan deal has not been ruled out. Clubs have already expressed interest again due to all the speculation. There are two Italian clubs that are interested and a German club have sounded us out too.

-Fred Moraes. Source: Lancenet via Sky Sports.

NB: I'm fairly sure Moraes is actually Wallace's agent, although I'm not 100 percent positive. Transfer season is fun!

I haven't seen too much of Wallace, but I'd be surprised if he was ready for a serious role with the first team next year. The loan deal sounds like a better bet. I think I can guess the Italian sides -- Napoli, Roma and Inter Milan are all likely to be involved (based on personnel I'd favour Napoli, but we probably have a better relationship with Inter at the moment). As for the German side, I have no idea, although I'm pretty sure everyone's going to be looking at Chelsea's loanees as a quick way to inject some quality into their sides after the success they had last year.

A Serie A or Bundesliga loan would be a nice, aggressive assignment and a stepping stone towards breaking into our squad, so assuming that Wallace doesn't make an immediate impression on Mourinho during preseason, I think I like that plan quite a lot.