We had very strong reports that Chelsea youngster Lucas Piazon was on his way to Malaga for a loan earlier, but although Rafa Benitez was talking about it as though it were a done deal, neither side had actually confirmed anything until just now. There's nothing up on either ChelseaFC.com or the official Malaga site, but fortunately Piazon's a bit of a Twitter fiend and is helping us out:

Just arrived at the hotel in Málaga , spent all day at the club and now is everything ready to start training! Tks everyone for the support

— Lucas Piazon (@LucasPiazon) January 15, 2013

Piazon made his Premier League debut last month during the 8-0 rout of Aston Villa, but he was highly unlikely to get any playing time at Chelsea in a season where the focus is on a mad chase to overhaul the two Manchester teams and get somewhere at least respectably close to the top of the table. A loan deal, then, makes a good bit of sense. I'm not entirely sure that a move to Malaga will result in much playing time, but if he does get it it'll be in a highly competitive environment.

At least a couple of Chelsea players might get some more Champions League experience this year, eh?

PS: Here's what Malaga are getting...