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Real Sociedad in surprise move to take Chelsea's Josh McEachran on loan
REAL SOCIEDAD have emerged as a surprise destination for Josh McEachran next season with the Spanish side confident a loan move can be agreed with Chelsea.
McEachran is one of a number of Chelsea youngsters earmarked for spells away from Stamford Bridge next season, but unlike Wallace, who has been linked with Inter, and Lucas Piazon, it was thought that McEachran would remain in England following previously successful loan spells at Middlesbrough and Swansea.
But now reports in Spain suggest that Sociedad could be set to take McEachran overseas.
According to Basque newspaper Noticias de Gipuzkoa, Sociedad have turned to McEachran after missing out on their first choice, Jonathan Dos Santos of Barcelona.
A deal for Dos Santos was thought to be close but the arrival of Gerardo Martino at Barcelona has complicated matters, and the new boss singled out the Mexican as a player he wants to remain at the Camp Nou next season.
For Sociedad's part they are looking to strengthen their midfield having lost Asier Illarramendi to Real Madrid.
Illarramendi helped guide Sociedad to a fourth place finish in La Liga last season which qualified them for this season's Champions League.
And, from Chelsea's perspective, it is Sociedad's ability to offer European experience to McEachran that may give them an advantage over teams in the Championship.
Earlier this summer McEachran told Sky Sports: "I'm a Chelsea player and my dream as a kid was to play for Chelsea, so I want to play for them this season.
"But if the boss wants me to go out on loan I'll have to listen to him and go out. It's down to him.
"He said he would speak to me while we were in Asia so I'll wait for then. Hopefully it would be to a Premier League team, but I wouldn't mind going to a Championship team either."
It now looks that McEachran will be heading for neither the Premier League or the Championship.
Instead, the 20-year-old could be gracing the Champions League for Sociedad.