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July has arrived and with it the great weight of expectation of transfer market action from Chelsea Football Club.
As per tradition, that also includes — more so than any potential sales or acquisitions — the annual Chelsea Loan Army recruitment drive. Each summer, Chelsea youngsters too old or too good for youth football but too young or deemed not quite good enough for the first-team join the Army in droves. So far this season three players, Fankaty Dabo, Nathan Baxter and Danilo Pantic have had loan moves finalised. The next addition isn’t too far behind, and it looks to be academy graduate right-back Todd Kane.
Todd Kane is expected to be the next Chelsea player to head out on loan. Has been increasingly linked with Groningen of late. #CFC #LoanArmy
— Chelsea Youth (@chelseayouth) July 2, 2017
A report from AD.nl last night claimed that FC Groningen (of the Netherlands’ Eredivisie), who have been looking for an attack-minded right-back following the departure of Hans Hateboer to Atalanta and subsequently Tom Hiariej to Central Coast Mariners (in Australia), have agreed to bring in Kane on loan for the season. Kane himself confirmed that he was heading out on loan via social media today, although he did not specify a destination.
Can't wait for this next chapter. Great Club and very excited to be back
— Todd Kane (@Toddy_Kane) July 2, 2017
It looks as if we can expect an official announcement soon for addition number four to the 2017-18 Loan Army.
Toddy is one of the elder loanees these days at 23, going on 24. He had a very productive time at NEC Nijmegen two years ago before an ACL injury cruelly cut short his season. He’s spent all of 2016-17 recovering with the Development Squad back at Cobham after signing a new three-year deal with the club in August — Chelsea take care of our own.