Chelsea youngster Alfie Gilchrist is reportedly expected to go out on loan later this week.
From the back end of December through to the end of the 2023-24 campaign, the academy graduate played an important role in Mauricio Pochettino's squad.
A total of five starts and 12 substitute outings were made in all competitions, largely on the right-hand side of defence.
Having extended his contract until 2026, the 20-year-old would have hoped to have remained in the plans of newly-appointed head coach Enzo Maresca.
Instead, Gilchrist will seemingly spend the next phase of his career in the Championship with one of two clubs.
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Move up North awaits
On Monday evening, it was confirmed that Gilchrist had not been selected for Chelsea's pre-season tour of the United States.
According to transfer expert Fabrizio Romano, Gilchrist will either sign for Sheffield United or Preston North End over the coming days.
The latter were linked with the youngster earlier in the transfer window where it was suggested they will go head-to-head with Italian side Como.
However, the Serie A newcomers have gone in a different direction with Gilchrist seemingly certain to drop down into the second tier of English football.
Like Preston, Sheffield United are long-term admirers of the player having been credited with an interest in a permanent deal before Gilchrist penned one of two contract extensions.
With both clubs having managers in Ryan Lowe and Chris Wilder who regularly use a back three, it appears that Gilchrist is being earmarked for the role of a right-sided centre-back or right wing-back.
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A transfer that suits all parties
Despite giving a positive account of himself in Chelsea colours last season, Gilchrist remains with just 431 minutes of senior football in his career.
That has made it imperative that he improves on that in 2024-25 and a season of Championship football is the ideal bedding ground as he bids to further prove himself.
From Chelsea's perspective, a domestic loan makes far more sense than a foreign-based departure courtesy of the FIFA regulations that are in place.
Gilchrist must now decide whether to join a likely Championship title contender where he may not always be first choice or a playoff-chasing club where he could earn more minutes.
Darren Plant
