Chelsea striker Dominic Solanke training with Vitesse ahead of summer loan move

Dominic Solanke is set to become the latest Chelsea player to further his development in the Eredivisie, with Vitesse having confirmed the striker is training with them ahead of a summer loan switch.

The Blues have sent a number of young players to the GelreDome over recent years as part of an unofficial partnership between the two clubs that Southampton manager Ronald Koeman recently suggested may have led to a loss of connection with supporters.

Nemanja Matic, Marco van Ginkel, Tomas Kalas, Gael Kakuta, Josh McEachran and Christian Atsu have all spent time in Arnhem since 2010 and Vitesse have already secured four new Chelsea loanees this summer in the shape of English prospects Isaiah Brown and Lewis Baker as well as recent signings Nathan and Danilo Pantic.

It now looks very likely that Solanke, who signed his first professional contract in September 2014, will be the next arrival, with Vitesse releasing a statement on their official website confirming the 17-year-old began training with Peter Bosz's side on 4 August.

Vitesse, fifth-place finishers in the Dutch top-flight last term with another Chelsea loanee in Bertrand Traore finishing as their top goalscorer, further claim they are hopeful an early deal can be reached with the opening match of their 2015-16 domestic campaign coming against Willem II on 9 August.

While Solanke is inevitably set to join too late to help his new teammates try to overturn a formidable 3-0 deficit in the club's Europa League third-round qualifying second-leg clash against Southampton on 6 August, Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho will be looking for him to make a significant contribution during his first season in senior football having already performed so well at various youth levels.

The England U18 international has made just one senior appearance at Stamford Bridge as a 73rd-minute substitute in a Champions League tie against Maribor in October 2014, yet played a key role and scored at will during Chelsea's Uefa Youth League and FA Youth Cup successes earlier in 2015.

He also appeared for the first team during pre-season in their surprisingly heavy International Champions Cup defeat to the New York Red Bulls but did not make the matchday squad for the recent Community Shield loss against Arsenal at Wembley. Solanke's versatility will likely prove crucial, given he also has experience of playing on either flank and behind the lone forward as well as in his preferred central striking role.