It is highly likely that the conversation over the future of Chelsea's midfield will rear its head by the time we reach summer 2022.
Contract doubts over Jorginho and N'Golo Kante might mean that both of the guaranteed starters longevity at Stamford Bridge is called into question and eyes turn to West Ham's highly-rated Declan Rice again.
Spending big in the transfer window on Europe's best players will always happen at a club like Chelsea with the clear financial muscle and craving to compete for the biggest honours, but one of the consistent lessons of recent years has been the value from promoting within.
This season both Trevoh Chalobah and Ruben Loftus-Cheek have proved to be highly valuable internal solutions to positions Chelsea were actively trying to upgrade in the summer, pursuing Jules Kounde from Sevilla or signing Saul Niguez on loan from Atletico Madrid on deadline day for the season.
But academy graduates continue to be at the heart of Chelsea's most positive performances with Callum Hudson-Odoi, Mason Mount and Reece James all adding quality to Thomas Tuchel's attack this season.
Another highly thought of academy talent in Billy Gilmour could very likely provide another solution to save Marina Granovskaia a lot in transfer fees next summer.
Gilmour has struggled for minutes so far on loan at Norwich, to the bemusement of Chelsea fans given the 20-year-old's clear talent for club and country over recent years after breaking through under Frank Lampard in 2019.
The starring performances for Lampard against Liverpool and Everton in March 2020 awoke everyone to the midfield talent Gilmour possesses, and soon supporters were clamouring to see more of their new gem.
A combination of the suspension of English football due to the COVID-19 pandemic and a knee injury in June after the restart paused Gilmour's meteoric rise.
But following his return to fitness in November 2020, Gilmour has carried on gaining plaudits for the sporadic looks into game time under Lampard and then Thomas Tuchel, leading to his inclusion into Steve Clarke's Euros' squad where Gilmour was the standout performer against England.
His tenacity and combative nature wins him admiration, but his elegance on the ball and metronomic ability leads him to feel like the natural predecessor to Jorginho, who has filled that midfield role for the Blues since 2018.
Given where football at the elite level continues to head, players of Gilmour's skillset are becoming more valuable and Chelsea should not waste them when they are developed from within.
Even though Jorginho has experienced the strongest year of his career solidifying his place in Thomas Tuchel's strongest eleven, his agent Joao Santos' constant quotes indicating a return to Italy might be possible could mean Marina Granovskaia may look at the 29-year-old with the opportunity to cash in when Jorginho's reputation is strongest, opening up a vital space to be filled.
Given touted fees of up to £100 million for Rice from West Ham or £51 million for Monaco's Aurélien Tchouaméni would be smart moves but could prevent Gilmour instantly returning from his loan at Carrow Road fo fulfil the role many Chelsea fans hope he can in the coming years, given the clear potential he has to flourish.
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