Billy Gilmour’s short-term future could lie away from Chelsea after the midfielder was left out of Thomas Tuchel’s first matchday squad on Wednesday night.
Tuchel sprung a few surprises with his starting XI for the Premier League game against Wolves, which ended goalless, starting Cesar Azpilicueta, Antonio Rudiger, Callum Hudson-Odoi and Olivier Giroud while naming Mason Mount, Reece James, Timo Werner, Christian Pulisic and Tammy Abraham among the substitutes.
There was no room for 19-year-old Gilmour even on the bench, with reports claiming the Scot is looking to go out on loan for the remainder of the season.
Gilmour’s progress at Chelsea was hampered by a serious knee injury last year, and this season he has made just six senior appearances; two starts in the FA Cup and one in the Champions League, plus two off the bench in the Premier League and once in Europe.
With transfer deadline day on 1 February, there is now less than a week for Gilmour to secure a temporary move away from Stamford Bridge.
Speaking on Thursday, Tuchel said he sees “absolutely” no reason why Chelsea should look to offload players this transfer window, and suggested he would get a closer look at Gilmour during upcoming training sessions.
“For Billy I have a good impression,” Tuchel said. “He is a very strategic guy, a very high level of game understanding. Very good in the first contact, very clever in positioning.
“We will see if he has the physical level, if he can compete in the centre of the field in the most physical league in the world. We will see that, but he is super quick, super fast with his feet, and with his decision making.
“We have right now 21, 22 players available, playing three competitions. There is absolutely no need that we have to get rid of players.”
Tuchel added that his decision to leave out Gilmour, and also name Mount on the bench, was to “take the weight off their shoulders”, turning to more experienced players. “There is nothing to worry about,” he added.
Jorginho partnered Matteo Kovacic in the two deep-lying midfield roles in what was a 3-4-2-1 formation from Tuchel, and should the new Chelsea boss continue with his approach Gilmour would find himself competing with three other players – Kovacic, Jorginho and N’Golo Kante – for two starting roles.
Should he push for a move, however, his availability would undoubtedly attract a number of clubs given his level of performances when playing under Frank Lampard.
Premier League clubs could approach Chelsea, although the rule that prevents teams from loaning more than one player from a fellow top-tier English side would mean Aston Villa (Ross Barkley), Fulham (Ruben Loftus-Cheek), Crystal Palace (Michy Batshuayi), West Brom (Conor Gallagher) and Sheffield United (Ethan Ampadu) could not loan Gilmour as well.
West Ham have emerged as one interested party, according to The Sun, with manager David Moyes said to be interested as the club continue their unlikely push for European football next season.
The Hammers have the rather settled partnership of Declan Rice and Tomas Soucek in central midfield, with the pair having started every Premier League game so far this season, but Gilmour would be an attractive alternative for Moyes, particularly if an injury rules one of his regular starters out. Mark Noble is the current back-up, with the club captain reduced to just three league starts this season.
Meanwhile, there are fewer loan restrictions in the Championship, where clubs are allowed to loan as many as four players from one team over the course of the season, and those pushing for promotion to the Premier League could view Gilmour as a player who would provide a mid-season lift.
Swansea City are currently second in the Championship, with Chelsea’s 20-year-old defender Marc Guehi currently at the Welsh club, while in the past they have loaned Conor Gallaher and Tammy Abraham from the Blues.
A return to Scotland has also been touted. Gilmour started his youth career with Rangers before moving to Chelsea, though a loan spell back at Ibrox would see him enter a crowded market given manager Steven Gerrard already has Glen Kamara, Joe Aribo, Ryan Jack, Scott Arfield, Bongani Zungu and Steven Davis at his disposal.
Whether any club makes a formal approach remains to be seen, although what is known, with the deadline on Monday, is that Gilmour’s future will become clearer in a matter of days.
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