Chelsea’s new loan Saul Niguez: Who the hell are you? (Vol. 20)

3. What does this mean for Billy Gilmour and Conor Gallagher next year?

Any signing has to be made with half an eye on who is already at the club. Gilmour and Gallagher are both away on loan this season and both are viewed as potential Chelsea players going forward. The club won’t want to get to place where they are losing either because of signing a player, which is a bit of a concern with bringing anyone in this season as the fourth choice.

That’s why the loan is particularly brilliant. Chelsea has no commitment to sign Niguez, merely an option. If he works out, the Blues could sign him and figure things out later. If not, the path for Gilmour and Gallagher is left open to return to the first team.

Furthermore, Kante and Jorginho aren’t getting younger. Though both could remain at a high level for some time, eventually the cliff will come. Chelsea may want to sell before that happens and Niguez offers yet another safety net for that eventuality.

Another good reason is Chelsea, with or without Tuchel, are unlikely to play just two centermids forever. When the change to a three man midfield comes, and eventually it will, the Blues will find themselves light without more signings. Niguez would help to bridge that gap and give the club more flexibility in the long run without blocking off the futures of Gilmour, Gallagher, or whoever might be coming up.

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