Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink believes Chelsea youngster Billy Gilmour will be the man who will turn out to be the long-term replacement for Jorginho in the middle of the park.
‘I like him – he handles the ball really well,’ Hasselbaink told the BBC, via the Metro.
‘Chelsea bought Jorginho a few years ago but they have this boy coming through. I think he will take Jorginho’s place and become more than Jorginho. I think he is a really good talent.
‘If you can handle the ball, if you can compose and play forward and make a difference then it doesn’t matter how big you are. He’s playing like a ‘big man’.’
Can Billy Gilmour replace Jorginho at Chelsea?
Jorginho has had a slow start to his life in the Premier League but his importance at the club had been steadily growing over the past year or so.
Everyone expected him to play a more pivotal role in the Chelsea starting XI this season but so far, he’s played in only 11 EPL matches for the Blues and most of these appearances have come off the bench.
And with N’Golo Kante nowhere near his best form, the central midfielder’s role in the side is up for grabs and if Billy Gilmour can keep improving at such a steady pace then there’s every chance he will be a regular starter for the side during the 2021-22 season.
The former Rangers academy man surely has the talent but we will have to wait and see if Lampard and the Chelsea management decides to put their faith on the 19-year-old or not.
Chelsea have been really underwhelming so far this season which could mean that Roman Abramovich decides to bring in some new players during the summer transfer window. And if this happens then there’s no doubt Billy Gilmour’s recent progress will be nullified and he will fall down the pecking order.
Jorginho will be 30 at the end of this year and everyone knows that Chelsea do not like to hold onto players who have crossed that particular age barrier. Hence it will also be interesting to see if the London side decides to hold onto the Italian or do they try and sell him at the end of this season.
