Chelsea into the depths part four: A healthy heart in midfield

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Chelsea’s German head coach Thomas Tuchel (R) and Chelsea’s Scottish midfielder Billy Gilmour (L) celebrate on the pitch after the English Premier League football match between Manchester City and Chelsea at the Etihad Stadium in Manchester, north west England, on May 8, 2021. – Chelsea won the game 2-1. – RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE. No use with unauthorized audio, video, data, fixture lists, club/league logos or ‘live’ services. Online in-match use limited to 120 images. An additional 40 images may be used in extra time. No video emulation. Social media in-match use limited to 120 images. An additional 40 images may be used in extra time. No use in betting publications, games or single club/league/player publications. (Photo by Laurence Griffiths / POOL / AFP) / RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE. No use with unauthorized audio, video, data, fixture lists, club/league logos or ‘live’ services. Online in-match use limited to 120 images. An additional 40 images may be used in extra time. No video emulation. Social media in-match use limited to 120 images. An additional 40 images may be used in extra time. No use in betting publications, games or single club/league/player publications. / RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE. No use with unauthorized audio, video, data, fixture lists, club/league logos or ‘live’ services. Online in-match use limited to 120 images. An additional 40 images may be used in extra time. No video emulation. Social media in-match use limited to 120 images. An additional 40 images may be used in extra time. No use in betting publications, games or single club/league/player publications. (Photo by LAURENCE GRIFFITHS/POOL/AFP via Getty Images) /

From the academy: George McEachran

This could go to several different players, including Ben Elliott, Xavier Simons, or Charlie Webster. But it is George McEachran who has the most experience in the midfield overall, having previously been on loan in the Netherlands.

At 21, he’s quite old for the academy but his experience is what might tip him over the line compared to the others. Development is by no means a straight line and late bloomers happen all the time (just look at Didier Drogba for a Chelsea example) but the odds are a bit against McEachran. Though he has the most minutes, professionally and in the academy, it may not take long for any of the other three to pull ahead in the ones to watch category. For now, McEachran pulls ahead by default mainly.

On loan: Billy Gilmour

This one is a bit of a tossup between Conor Gallagher and Billy Gilmour. To be perfectly honest, fans should keep an eye on both because both have a strong case to make for staying and contributing at Chelsea next season. Though Gallagher has an extra year on loan, Gilmour is the main one to watch primarily because of his steady ascendency and fit for the team.

Gilmour was trusted by Frank Lampard in big games and he did very well. Injury set him back a bit and he struggled to break into Lampard’s squad before Thomas Tuchel’s arrival. It took some time for Tuchel to be convinced after convincing Gilmour to stay at Chelsea instead of going on loan but he had little reason to turn back once Gilmour started playing. On loan at Norwich now, in part because of its tactical fit in regards to Tuchel’s Chelsea, Gilmour has already been earning rave reviews.

That’s not to mention how he’s quickly gone from Scotland’s Golden Boy to arguably their main man in the course of one summer. Gilmour is going straight to the top and, after a solid season on loan, he might just give Tuchel something to think about next season.

Into the depths part 3: Chelsea's wingbacks the drivers of the system. dark. Next

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