Rangers will ‘definitely’ have ‘an advantage’ in the race to sign Chelsea midfielder Billy Gilmour, according to journalist Pete O’Rourke.
The 20-year-old departed his boyhood club for the Blues when he was still a teenager in July 2017 and has been linked with a temporary return to Ibrox as he searches for regular game time.
What is the latest news involving Gilmour?
According to 90min, the Gers are one of a handful of teams interested in snapping up Gilmour on loan in the summer, with Fulham and Bournemouth named as his other potential suitors.
The 12-cap Scotland international has found regular first-team action hard to come by since arriving at Stamford Bridge nearly five years ago, making just 22 senior appearances in that time for Chelsea.
It was hoped that a loan switch to Norwich City at the start of the current campaign would finally provide Gilmour with a platform to shine on a regular basis, though.
However, the technically gifted talent has only started 17 Premier League games for the Canaries as they remain marooned at the bottom of the table.
Gilmour will surely be hoping then that he can become a mainstay in the starting XI next term for whoever he is turning out for, with a Rangers comeback appearing to be on the cards.
What has O’Rourke said about Gilmour?
O’Rourke believes Giovanni van Bronckhorrst’s charges may be at the front of the queue for Gilmour’s signature due to his previous connection with the club.
He told GiveMeSport: “I think it will definitely give them an advantage, maybe ahead of other clubs, if Chelsea do decide to loan him out.
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“I’m sure Billy Gilmour still has a lot of fondness for Rangers from his time there, and it's something that he might very much be interested in doing, going back there and proving his worth because they never really saw him in the first team because he left the club at such a young age.
“So, I think it would definitely give them an advantage, but again, as I said, Chelsea will decide what happens with Billy Gilmour in the summer.”
Do Rangers need Gilmour?
Rangers could be short on numbers in the midfield area next term, with both Scott Arfield and Steven Davis set to become free agents in just a few months’ time.
Loanee Aaron Ramsey is also expected to return to his parent club following the conclusion of 2021/22, while Joe Aribo has been linked with a move to the Premier League.
Therefore, Gilmour could be an ideal candidate to solve the Glasgow giants’ engine room woes, providing Van Bronckhorst with some much-needed guile in the middle of the pitch.