Update (Aug. 10, 2:25 pm ET)
Per the Frankfurter Neue Presse (via Stars & Stripes FC), Frankfurt's sporting director has denied the reports that Miazga will be joining the club on loan. Whether that's a negotiating tactic or Miazga will be playing somewhere else in 2016-17 remains to be seen.
Original Text (Aug. 10, 11:20 am ET)
Matt Miazga appears to be closing in on a loan to German Bundesliga side Eintracht Frankfurt, according to European reports.
Miazga, who moved from the New York Red Bulls to English Premier League giants Chelsea in January, was reportedly not in attendance at Chelsea’s open training session on Wednesday morning. He’s expected to be loaned to Frankfurt in the coming days, according to German newspaper Sport Bild.
The 21-year-old US international was also absent from the Blues’ final preseason friendly against Werder Bremen in Germany on Sunday. Miazga played in two EPL matches under interim Chelsea manager Guus Hiddink last season, but did not feature in any of the club’s three friendly matches on their US tour under new head coach Antonio Conte earlier this month.
Conte hinted to reporters last week that Miazga, who has two caps with the USMNT, could be sent out on loan for the coming EPL season.
“He’s a young player, he has a good technique and I think he is working very well under the physical aspect, but the tactical aspect he can improve a lot and I think that he is improving with his work,” Conte told reporters in Minneapolis ahead of Chelsea’s friendly against AC Milan.
“I think in this moment of his career it’s good if he plays to improve. To grow in experience to improve. You can improve if you play every game or a lot of games during the season. But he is a good guy and I am very happy about him.”
Eintracht Frankfurt narrowly avoided relegation last season, finishing 16th in the league before winning a relegation playoff against FC Nürnberg to keep their place in the Bundesliga. US international Timmy Chandler has been with the club on and off since 2008, making 12 appearances for the team last season.
