Report: Lampard could give 20-year-old Chelsea a chance next season after impressive loan spell

Matt Law suggests Marc Guehi could be a permanent Chelsea player until this summer after a successful loan spell at Swansea City.

In its weekly Chelsea briefing, the Telegraph’s Football News correspondent revealed that the young defender is already being measured for a place in next season’s senior team.

Guehi has been outstanding for Swansea in the Championship since his loan move last January, a contract extended until the end of 2020/21 after impressing on the Welsh coast.

Frank Lampard is currently undergoing a centre-back cycle with a multitude of choices over who stays at Stamford Bridge or who is coming up.

Law said that Chelsea “ideally would go into next season with four central defender options”.

Guehi could be part of Lampard’s thinking, especially since he was dubbed “the best defender in the Championship” by Law himself.

The 20-year-old was one of Steve Cooper’s standouts, missing just three league games as he is ever-present at the heart of the Swans’ defence.

Cooper described him as “athletic,” “a calming influence,” and that he can “play the ball comfortably.”

Chelsea will not only be watching this remarkable progress with pride, but also to compare it to the options they currently have at his position.

The futures of Antonio Rudiger, Andreas Christensen and in particular Fikayo Tomori are up in the air as Lampard looks to trim down his swollen squad.

While this may be music to the ears of Guehi and his representatives, there are many external factors that could interfere with reuniting with his youth club.

It may depend on whether Tomori opts for an extended loan or an indefinite return to Chelsea.

The Chelsea Chronicle view

Guehi certainly deserves rave reviews for his performances in an extremely difficult league, so the quality is definitely there.

It would also be massive for Chelsea to have another academy product join their ranks and get a chance in the big time.

However, we have walked this similar path with Tomori himself; exciting in the league, recalled to Chelsea, strong debut campaign, then ushered into the wings. I don’t want anyone else to fall by that sword.

Nathaniel is a football journalist who graduated from the University of Derby. He has worked at Burton Albion for two years as part of the media team. Nathaniel regularly writes articles for the club’s official website and matchday programme. He covered the U20 Women’s World Cup 2018 in Brittany and has covered diverse areas from non-league to the Premier League.