After a dismal start to the season, Millwall have quietly gone about their business in recent weeks under new head coach Joe Edwards and have managed to climb their way back up the table.
The London club are now unbeaten in five matches in England’s second tier and are on a three-game winning streak for the first time since October 2022. Furthermore, Edwards’ side have managed to open up a ten-point gap between themselves and the final relegation spot, currently occupied by Queens Park Rangers.
Millwall are now just eight points off the playoff places and can dream about an unprecedented charge for the top six in the second half of the campaign, having gotten so close last season, finishing one point below Sunderland.
However, if the unthinkable is to be achieved, the Lions will need to strengthen their squad before the January transfer window slams shut at the beginning of next month.
According to journalist Si Phillips, the club have identified Chelsea youngster Alfie Gilchrist as a potential transfer target this winter, although the Blues are unsure whether to let the 20-year-old centre-back leave or not [quotes via The Chelsea Chronicle]:
“I understand that Millwall are keen on taking Alfie Gilchrist on loan for the rest of the season. One source suggests this is actually already in the pipeline and Gilchrist could soon be heading to Millwall.
However, Chelsea sources state that the club will need to make a decision on whether they will sanction a loan move for Gilchrist or not this month, and at the moment they are unsure if they would allow it.”
Gilchrist recently made his debut for the Premier League giants under Mauricio Pochettino during the side’s narrow 2-1 win over Crystal Palace last week and is currently said to be on £5.5k-per-week at the London outfit with a market value of £4 million, as per Football Transfers.
Writer’s View
Chelsea’s Cobham Academy is one of the finest in world football and has produced some huge stars over the past few years, including the likes of Mason Mount, Fikayo Tomori and Reece James, all of whom were sent on loan to the Championship to cut their teeth in men’s football.
The same could be happening with Gilchrist. Given the youngster recently made his debut in the top-flight, Chelsea obviously feel there is a real player there and Millwall would lose nothing by taking him on loan for a few months to aid their promotion dream.
