Mancienne close to Hamburg swit

Chelsea defender Michael Mancienne says he is set to end his long association with the Blues by moving to Bundesliga side Hamburg.

GettyImagesMichael Mancienne has been out on loan for the past five seasons

Mancienne, 23, progressed through the Stamford Bridge youth set-up from an early age but has spent almost his entire professional career on loan, playing for the Chelsea first-team just six times in six seasons.

The defender has played for QPR and Wolves for two and three loan spells respectively, though he struggled to get into Mick McCarthy's side this term, making only 13 Premier League starts.
But Mancienne's inability to break into the Wolves team has not deterred former Chelsea technical director Frank Arnsesen - now sporting director at Hamburg - from swooping for a player who was once considered one of the Blues most promising young players.
Mancienne has been given special dispensation to leave the Engand Under-21s pre-European Championship training camp to finalise the reported £3 million move, with the defender delighted at the possibility of a new challenge.
"Hamburg get 50,000 every home game and my first job is to help them get in the Champions League," Mancienne said "It's a very exciting move."
Mancienne had two years left on his existing contract but looks set to put pen to paper on a £40,000-a-week deal with Hamburg, who under instruction from Arnesen are also believed to be chasing fellow Chelsea starlets Jeffrey Bruma and Gael Kakuta.