Chelsea: Miralem Pjanic, Jorginho, and Billy Gilmour all connected

Rumors about a Miralem Pjanic and Jorginho swap went from one to 100 quickly. For Chelsea, it is all about the implications on Billy Gilmour.

On its surface, a rumor like a Miralem Pjanic and Jorginho swap makes little sense for Chelsea and therefore can be easily debunked. But if the Guardian’s Fabrizio Romano is making mention of it, in an article, then there is some smoke to that fire.

Of course that smoke could all be coming from Turin. Regardless, there is something to the notion of it due to the people bringing it up so it has to be addressed.

It has already been brought up that Pjanic does not really add anything to Chelsea. But there is another player to consider in this equation that could help to solve it: Billy Gilmour.

Gilmour has been playing in Jorginho’s suspension. In those few games, he has been nothing but spectacular and real, valid questions should be raised as to how best to incorporate him more going forward. That is where Pjanic starts to come into frame.

Gilmour is 18, nearly 19. Jorginho is 28, roughly entering the prime of a midfielder. Pjanic is 30. That may only be a small difference from Jorginho, but small margins can matter a lot in the game. Realistically, who offers more of a barrier long term for Gilmour?

That, plus the value of the situation, is likely the question Chelsea would ask themselves if this swap rumor progresses into a real swap deal. At what point is Gilmour ready to take up the mantle and is it better to begin clearing the way now, or hold what they have and figure it out later?

Leaving the path open for the youth seems to be a major trend of the Blues’ transfer targets this season. Most are older and offer a great deal of experience not currently present in the squad, but their age also means that their skill set will deteriorate sooner. A deteriorating skill set allows the youth with their expanding skill set to step in. Marcin Bulka’s decision to leave Chelsea due to Kepa Arrizabalaga’s young age is an example of how this situation can pan out when the incoming player is on the younger side.

On paper, Pjanic and Jorginho are basically the same player with only the age difference truly separating them. If that is what Juventus is offering, then how much cash is attached will also weigh into the deal. The swap, the cash attached, and the evaluation of Gilmour would all factor in to whether Chelsea thinks this is a good deal or not.

Basically, the club simply needs to determine how much Jorginho is worth, minus what Pjanic is worth, and then factor in how long it would take Gilmour to be ready for a starting spot and how much shorter that turn around would be with Pjanic instead of Jorginho. If that sounds complicated, well, it would be. Jorginho may not be perfect, but it would be an odd one to simply swap him for a similar player two years his senior.

It all hinges on Gilmour and what Frank Lampard wants to do. It seems clear Chelsea is targeting experience in part because the young squad needs it and in part because it leaves the lane open for the youth in the long term. Pjanic ticks those boxes, but the price would have to be right for Chelsea to allow Jorginho to go in exchange.