Chelsea make transfer decision as clubs circle for player John Terry said was 'unbelievable'

Chelsea are prepared to listen to loan offers for defender Alfie Gilchrist this summer, football.london understands.

The 20-year-old broke into the Blues' senior squad last season after impressing for the academy and is now attracting interest from several clubs in the Championship. Leeds United, who missed out on promotion back to the Premier League after losing in the play-off final to Southampton, are one of the clubs with a keen interest in the Cobham graduate.

Gilchrist has been on the Chelsea books since 2014 when he was signed from Queens Park Rangers. He made his senior debut for the club in December of last year as a late substitute in the 2-1 win against Crystal Palace at Stamford Bridge.

Mauricio Pochettino then handed Gilchrist a few cameo appearances off the bench with Chelsea's injury situation being pretty severe last term. His performances quickly made him a firm favourite among Chelsea supporters.

Gilchrist then signed a new contract with the club in April, keeping him in SW6 until 2026. However, Chelsea are now considering sending the youngster out on loan for next season in order to get him some invaluable first-team experience.

Not only is he a favourite among fans, he has also caught the eye of one particular Chelsea legend. John Terry, who was asked by a supporter on social media for the one academy player to keep an eye on, said: "Alfie Gilchrist. He's a really good player.

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"He's got an unbelievable attitude. He performs so well on a daily basis, does everything right. I think he's got a good chance.

"I think we spoke about the young players going on loan and I think Alfie's next step is to go on loan next season and then you should see how he does. I'm expecting big things from Alf, expecting him to play hopefully a game or two as the season goes on."

Gilchrist, a boyhood Chelsea fan, extended his stay with the club a few months ago. When he started talks over an extension, the defender described the decision as a "no-brainer".

"Signing this contract at Chelsea is a massive achievement for me and my family," Gilchrist said. "It was a no-brainer and every time I've signed a contract here it has felt nicer and nicer. But now I want to keep on pushing and improving."