Chelsea talent Alfie Gilchrist could leave this summer with Sheffield United now chasing a deal for the teenager.
Sheffield United are hoping to tempt Chelsea teenager Alfie Gilchrist away from Stamford Bridge this summer.
That is according to The London Evening Standard, who suggest that Sheffield United are interested in signing Gilchrist.
It’s claimed that Chelsea have offered Gilchrist a new contract and want him to stay in West London.
Gilchrist is currently with the Chelsea squad in the United States and the Blues clearly rate him highly.
However, Sheffield United could offer a pathway to first-team football in the Premier League under Paul Heckingbottom.
The Blades don’t have the biggest budget to work with and are trying to get creative in the transfer market.
One target appears to be Gilchrist, seemingly believing that the teenager can make the step up to Premier League action.
Gilchrist is now into the final year of his Chelsea deal and has a big decision to make on his future with interest mounting.
Who is Chelsea teenager and Sheffield United target Alfie Gilchrist?
Gilchrist has come up through the Chelsea ranks ever since leaving Queens Park Rangers as a kid.
Now 19, Gilchrist has been a regular for Chelsea’s development squads in recent times.
The centre back turned out 22 times in Premier League 2 last season, chipping in with one goal and one assist.
Gilchrist was so impressive that he was nominated for the Premier League 2 Player of the Season award, but lost out to Manchester City’s Carlos Borges.
Still, Gilchrist is highly-rated at Chelsea and earned praise from development squad head coach Mark Robinson.
Robinson hailed Gilchrist for his ‘excellent consistency’ and ‘first class’ approach to training, as well as his improving ability on the ball.
Chelsea would probably rather not lose Gilchrist but the chance to play first-team football at Sheffield United may well appeal.
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