Fulham full-back Moritz Volz is reportedly set to complete a season-long loan move to the Blues today. The German is understood to be reluctant to drop out of the Premier League on a permanent basis, but is happy to make a temporary switch ahead of a possible longer term deal at a later date.
Town agreed a fee now reported to be £250,000 with Fulham for a permanent deal almost a fortnight ago with the player subsequently weighing up whether or not to make the switch. Volz played only 12 times for Fulham last season and is yet to feature this year.
Even if he completes his move today, Volz is highly unlikely to be available for tonight's game but could make his debut for the Blues at Watford on Saturday, when he would become the club's first ever German player.
The 25-year-old moved from Schalke 04 in his home country to Arsenal in 1999 and was in their U18 side which beat the Blues in the semi-final of the 2000/01 FA Youth Cup. Coincidentally, the 5ft 10in tall defender had made his senior debut in Town's 2-1 League Cup victory over the Gunners at Highbury earlier that season.
Volz made only one other appearance for Arsenal from the bench and moved out on loan to Wimbledon and then Fulham, making that switch permanent in January 2004 for a nominal fee.
The former German U21 international has become a cult figure during his time at Craven Cottage, cycling to matches on a foldaway bike and making fun of German stereotypes on his surreal website www.volzy.com.
Earlier this year he was awarded Professional Players Federation Community Champion Award, the judges describing him as a "shining example of good community workâ€Â.
Volz, primarily a right-back although having played across the back four and in midfield, has made 133 starts and 11 sub appearances and has scored four goals during his five years in West London.
Further to the pre-match piece, seven subs can be named in the Carling Cup not eight as wrongly stated.