Vitesse hopeful over Solanke loan deal

Mourinho had said earlier in April that he planned to use Solanke in his first team squad this season, adding that it would be a “big mistake” for the youngster to go out on loan.

Chelsea have confirmed that young striker Dominic Solanke has joined Vitesse Arnhem on a season-long loan. “Club and player hope to agree terms shortly”.

Solanke was top scorer in the UEFA Youth League last season as Chelsea lifted the trophy, and made his senior Champions League debut in the club’s 6-0 victory over Maribor in October.

The 17 year-old joins a long list of potential first-teamers the Blues have sent out on loan this season, with the likes of Andreas Christensen, Izzy Brown, Marco van Ginkel, Christian Atsu, Lewis Baker and Tomas Kalas among others leaving Stamford Bridge to gain more experience.

The teenager often trained with the first team and featured as an unused substitute against both Manchester United and Sunderland in the latter stages of last season, prompting Mourinho to question the logic of sending him away from the club on loan.

Mourinho had previously indicated that the goalscoring prodigy’s development would be better served by remaining at Stamford Bridge, telling getwestlondon.co.uk: “In my opinion, next year, he has two ways to go”.