TRANSFER RUMOR: Caleb Wiley to join the Chelsea loan army?

A barrage of rumors have emerged pointing toward that direction...

via Atlanta United

A quiet Saturday afternoon suddenly turned frantic as a handful of transfer rumors suddenly emerged, hinting that Atlanta United could be selling their top homegrown product.

Top French outlet L'Équipe were first on the scene with a report stating that Ligue 1 side Strasbourg were close to signing Caleb Wiley.

MLS transfer guru and FSF friend Tom Bogert soon followed with another important piece of the puzzle, revealing that Chelsea were in fact the club in “advanced talks” to sign the 19-year-old left back.

Later, famed social media transfer repeater Fabrizio Romano backed up the both claims by saying that Strasbourg would be the final destination as a loan move with Chelsea bankrolling the transfer as an investment for the future.

For the uninitiated, Chelsea are notorious for buying young players from across the world and sending them out on loan to various clubs. This is a transfer strategy that few use to allow them to have as many irons in the fire as possible in case a young player develops into a world class talent. Other MLS stars such as Matt Miazga, Gabriel Slonina, and Djordje Petrovic have also been members of the Chelsea loan army.

It remains to be seen if a move will be completed, but the timing seems about right from Atlanta United and Caleb Wiley’s perspective. The Five Stripes are in the middle of a massive roster makeover and Wiley has accomplished about as much as he can at the MLS level. So, these rumors definitely don’t feel out of place.

What is debatable is whether or not this is the right move for Wiley to make at this point in his career. Many of talents have been lost in the Chelsea loan army. Very few go on to actually star for Chelsea. But many have long and successful careers at other clubs.

At this point in time, we just have to wait and see how all of this plays out and if the rumors materialize into an actual transfer or not…