WILL BAXTER MAKE MOVE PERMANENT?
CHELSEA AMBITIONS REMAIN, BUT KEEPER LOVES TIGERS
ON loan Chelsea keeper Nathan Baxter hasn’t ruled out making a long-term move to Hull City.
The stopper starred in his fourth successive Championship game for the Tigers on Saturday, as Grant Mccann’s men beat Millwall 2-1 to maintain their remarkable upturn in fortunes.
Baxter has had to be patient for his chance since making a summer move from Stamford Bridge, playing just once for City in the first three months which came in the Carabao Cup penalty defeat to Wigan Athletic.
Boss Mccann handed Baxter a league debut at Barnsley earlier this month, and prior to Saturday’s win over the Lions, had kept three clean sheets before Tom Bradshaw scored for Gary Rowett’s men to end a run of 336 minutes without conceding.
Tigers fans are keen to see Baxter remain at City beyond the end of his season-long loan deal, but with a contract on the Kings Road until the summer of 2023, the 23-year-old admits he’s open to making a permanent move to Yorkshire, if his dream of playing for the Blues cannot be fulfilled.
“I still have ambitions to play for Chelsea, that’s been my dream since the age of seven when I joined the club,” Baxter told BBC Radio Humberside.
“That said, I love living in the area up here, I’ve met a lot of fans out in the town and it’s a real community club I think. I’ve loved playing in front of the fans and have received a brilliant reception - I thought the support on Wednesday night (at Cardiff) was unbelievable.
“A late away night at Cardiff with all the Covid pass stuff, the turnout was incredible and I thought they out sung the Cardiff fans.
“The support we have received all year has been great.
“If and when that decision is made, obviously it’s something that I’m open to but with football, it’s just a case of taking it game by game.
That’s what I feel like I’ve done, focused on my performance and focus on helping the side, little bits of information I can give to the lads to help us win games and that’s my focus.”