Chelsea to shore up loan army with CSKA Moscow midfielder — report

According to Russian news outlet Sport24, Chelsea continue to keep tabs on CSKA Moscow midfielder Aleksandr Golovin, who was first linked with the Blues at the end of last season. Chelsea’s intention apparently remains to send him on loan to Vitesse, where he could link up with his former coach Lenoid Slutsky. Slutsky is set to take over the reigns at Chelsea's loan partner at the start of next season after getting sacked halfway through this season at Hull City (where Chelsea also supported him with a number of loanees, including Ola Aina, Fikayo Tomori, and Michael Hector).

Golovin already has four seasons of senior club football under his belt and as well as 17 caps with the Russian national team. Per the report, it’s “personal interest” from Chelsea owner (and Slutsky pal) Roman Abramovich that’s fueling these rumors, which would explain why such an established (if still young) player would be slated for the Eredivisie.

But for now, this is only a transfer rumour, so any conjecture about the “state of things” is probably premature ... not to mention, Golovin, who is is a lock for a World Cup spot in his own country, may not be too fond of leaving one of Russia’s biggest clubs just to get his foot in the door of European top level football.