Forgotten Chelsea defender Baba Rahman has reportedly sealed a loan switch to PAOK while youngster Billy Gilmour also considers a temporary stint away.
According to a report from Daily Mail, out-of-favour Chelsea left-back Baba Rahman has agreed a loan move to Greek outfit PAOK for the rest of the season.
Having made the switch to Chelsea back in the summer of 2015 from German outfit FC Augsburg, the 26-year-old was never able to nail down a place in the Blues squad. Despite being on the club’s books over five years now, Rahman has made just 23 senior appearances, all of which came in his debut season at Stamford Bridge.
Since then, the Ghanaian has had loan spells away at Schalke (twice), Stade Reims and Mallorca, where he spent the previous season, making just three appearances over the course of the campaign. Having returned last summer, Rahman stayed put at Chelsea and featured thrice for the club’s reserves in the Premier League 2.
Firmly out of favour at the club, the 25-time capped Ghanaian international is now set to try his luck in Greece as he looks to get his career back on track. As per the report, Rahman has agreed on a loan move to Greek giants PAOK for the rest of the season in search of first-team football.
The 26-year-old left-back is contracted with Chelsea till the summer of 2022. So, the Blues will be hoping that the defender is able to come good in Greece, so as to get a sizeable transfer for him in the summer transfer window. The loan stint will also offer the full-back a chance to earn himself a transfer to a notable club come summer later this year.
Rahman will become the second forgotten Chelsea player to seal a loan exit this month, following in the footsteps of Danny Drinkwater, who made the switch to Turkish outfit Kasimpasa during the ongoing transfer window.
Billy Gilmour considering loan switch in search of regular minutes
With just over three days left for the January transfer window to slam shut, there could be a few more exits from Stamford Bridge, either on loan or on a permanent basis. One such player, who could be on his way out in the coming days is promising youngster Billy Gilmour, who is considering a loan move away from Stamford Bridge, according to The Athletic.
The 19-year-old made his breakthrough into the Blues’ first-team last year and made quite an impression before a long-term injury sidelined him until last month. Having made his return, Gilmour started from he where he had left off, winning the Man of the Match award in his full Champions League debut against Krasnodar.
Till date, the Scotsman has made 17 senior appearances for the west London giants, six of which have come in the ongoing season. However, with the European Championships looming, Gilmour is considering securing a loan exit for the rest of the season, as he hopes to break into the Scotland national team squad for the competition.
The report states that Gilmour was hoping to hold talks over his future with former Chelsea boss Frank Lampard right before his sacking, while the ex-Blues’ midfielder himself had hinted at a loan exit for the 19-year-old after his last game in charge against Luton Town.
With Thomas Tuchel now taking over the reins at Stamford Bridge, it remains to be seen whether the German decides to integrate Gilmour into his plans or decides to send him out on a temporary spell for the rest of the campaign.
