Don't worry, it's not a permanent deal. Instead, we're just getting confirmation of the reports that came out of Belgium a couple of weeks ago --Werder Bremen, former home of our very own garden gnome Marko Marin, want youngster Kevin de Bruyne on a loan deal to replace the 23-year-old. There are quotes and everything!

We have already had some conversations [regarding de Bruyne] and we are very far. -Klaus Allofs, Werder Bremen general manager. Source: Kicker.

I guess I probably shouldn't have pluralised quote there. It's just one quote. Oh well, can't go back and change it now! Anyway, you may have noticed that I'm pretty big on getting the youngsters playing time, so seeing de Bruyne get headhunted by a team in a good league as a direct replacement for someone is really encouraging. If you'll recall, Bremen are apparently going to use de Bruyne as a number ten rather than as a winger, which could be highly awesome (they did a good job with Mesut Ozil!).

Now we just need them to be all 'and we want to take that gigantic teenage striker y'all have and make him first choice for a year'. Then we'll really be cooking.