Leeds United have two Chelsea youngsters on their radar ahead of the January transfer window.
Leeds and Nottingham Forest are among clubs likely to be interested if Chelsea make Billy Gilmour available for a loan move.
London Football News understands both Championship clubs have been tracking the best players in Chelsea’s development side, for which Gilmour has caught the eye since being signed from Glasgow Rangers.
Meanwhile, Football Insider say Leeds are interested in Reece James, who recently made his first-team debut for the Blues.
The website say Leeds sources have indicated that they will look to take James on loan if he falls out of contention at Chelsea – and then potentially look at a permanent deal if the Yorkshire club reach the Premier League.
Gilmour also recently made the step up to first-team level but the Scotland Under-21 midfielder has plenty of older players in front of him in the pecking order at Stamford Bridge.
Chelsea have lots of midfield options, with the likes of N’Golo Kante, Jorginho, Ross Barkley, Mason Mount and Mateo Kovacic available to boss Frank Lampard and Ruben Loftus-Cheek on the way back from a long-term injury.
Gilmour therefore believes he could leave on loan in order to pick up valuable experience.
That will potentially pave the way for Leeds or Forest, who have been aware of the youngster’s talent for some time.
“I need to play more first-team games, at Chelsea or maybe out on loan,” Gilmour told BBC Scotland.
He added. “I need to get more experience. I’m training with the first team a lot and I’ve made a couple of appearances, so I can only get better if I keep going the way I have been.”