Hamburger SV looking at Chelsea talent

This summer German Bundesliga side Hamburger SV is looking at young talent coming out of FC Chelsea London. The reason is simple then the new HSV Director of Sports is Frank Arnesen, who until recently was the chief scout and Technical Director at the English Premier League club. And Arnesen knows that big spending Chelsea have young talent which isn't good enough for the Blues but would surely strengthen a new, rebuilding Hamburg.

Arnesen was in England over the weekend to speak to his former club, players of interest and their agents to convince them to move to the North German club. Hamburg are in the process of rebuilding their team for the new season as costly players like Ruud van Nistelrooy, Ze Roberto and Frank Rost are being off-loaded as the club has to reduce their wage bill.

The first signing was officially announced yesterday in England Under-21 international Michael Mancienne, who has penned a four year contract with HSV. Chelsea are getting a transfer fee of around 2 Million Euros for the defender and defensive midfielder, but 23 year old Mancienne has played most of the last three years on loan at EPL rivals Wolverhampton Wanderers.

Frank Arnesen said on the signing, "I knew Michael from my time at Chelsea, I have followed his progress over the years and I know he has great potential."

Mancienne said, "Hamburg is a huge club with a fantastic tradition and supporters. It's a big challenge to be able to play for them."

And Mancienne could only be the first of a few Chelsea starlets who could join Hamburg over the summer. The next on the list is 19 year old Dutch defender Jeffrey Bruma, but he is currently away with the Netherlands on an international tour to South America and is said to be undecided on the next step in his career.

Hamburg might also try and work out a deal with Chelsea where young talent is loaned to the German club as they are said to be interested in English teenager Joshua McEachran, French midfielder Gaël Kakuta and Italian Fabio Borini.