Young midfielder Billy Gilmour has made a request to Chelsea’s hierarchy to be allowed to leave on loan for the remainder of the season in an attempt to bolster his chances of getting into Scotland’s squad for this summer’s European Championships.
That is according to a report by the Daily Mail, who insist that Gilmour has asked to leave the club on a temporary basis to get more first-team minutes under his belt.
Added to Chelsea’s squad from Rangers back in 2017, the youngster flourished under former Blues boss Frank Lampard, quickly becoming one of the most highly-rated youngsters in the Premier League.
Last season, Gilmour, 19, delivered two Man of the Match performances to leave Chelsea fans jaw-dropped, as they felt he was the next big thing to emerge from the Blues’ youth ranks.
However, a serious injury meant that he spent a lengthy period of time on the sidelines, meaning he has featured just six times in all competitions so far this season.
Unfortunately for Gilmour, who impressed during Sunday’s 3-1 win over Luton Town, new head coach Thomas Tuchel looks set to opt for N’Golo Kante and Jorginho to be his two midfield anchors, leaving Gilmour as his third-choice option to fill that role.
The Scotland midfielder remains highly-rated by those at Stamford Bridge but a lack of game-time between now and the end of the season could severely dent his hopes of making it into Steve Clarke’s Scotland squad come the summer.
The youngster’s decision to wish to leave on loan is poised to alert a plethora of clubs, both in the Premier League and those chasing promotion in the Championship.
For a club fighting relegation in the top-flight, someone like Gilmour could be just the boost they need in an attempt to get themselves out of trouble and stave of the threat of falling through the trapdoor.
In total, Gilmour has made a total of 17 appearances for the Blues at first-team level since making his debut over a year ago.
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