Perfect destination chosen for Chelsea kid following in the footsteps of Colwill, Guehi and Chalobah | OneFootball

Simon Johnson of the Athletic is among the top Chelsea reporters today writing than an important loan move has been sorted out.

There are far too many players hanging around at Cobham at the moment – it’s vital to their seasons and to the harmony in the camp that they’re packed off as soon as possible to join preseason at their chosen clubs. Some leagues have already begun, and many others start next week.

The good news is that Alfie Gilchrist has found a home. He’s travelling to Sheffield tonight, and will conduct a medical with Sheffield United tomorrow before hopefully confirming a season long loan to the Yorkshire side. He’s had a number of Championship offers on the table, as well as interest from Premier League and Bundesliga sides, and has had plenty of time to think about where he wants to end up.

A perfect match – and potentially a season of great development

This should be a great move for Alfie. He showed last season in his many cameos for us that he’s ready for Premier League level – but we’ve learned over the years that playing every week at the top of the Championship is so much more beneficial to a player’s development than scraping around hoping for a few minutes here and there in the top flight.

If he establishes himself for the Blades as one of their regular starting centre backs, we could see him come on leaps and bounds just like Trevoh Chalobah, Marc Guehi and Levi Colwill have in recent years.

With his no nonsense attitude and shaved head, Sheffield just feels right for young Alfie. It’s not clear how they’ll cope with their return to the second tear after a pretty bleak year in the top flight, but if anyone can help them, it’s Gilchrist.