Norwich are set to sign top-rated Scottish midfielder Billy Gilmour on loan from Chelsea, with Thomas Tuchel deciding that regular Premier League football is the way forward for the 20-year-old next season.
Gilmour made headlines at Euro 2020 with a fantastic performance against England at Wembley. He ran the show when Scotland held their old rivals to a 0-0 draw, motivating fans’ prolonged shaking to see him involved on the international stage.
The Wembley collision saw him make his full international debut. He picked out the man of the match and made such an impact that Steve Clarke seemed to be running him a few days later against Croatia. But fate had other plans, and a positive Covid test ended Gilmour’s euro in a heartbreaking way.
When Scotland bowed thanks to a Luka Modric champion class at Hampden, Gilmour’s attention returned to club football, where he had various options on the table for 2021/22. Interest was reported from his former club Rangers, but despite the prospect of European football in Ibrox, Chelsea’s preference has always been to send him to another Premier League club.
This is where Norwich enters the fray. The Canary Islands are preparing to return to the top flight after storming the championship last semester, and it turned out last week that they are keen to bring in Gilmour and offer him regular top football.
It is now reported by Sky Sports that Norwich ‘ends’ on the deal that would make him his third summer signing.
⦿ 20 years old. ⦿ First start for Scotland. ⦿ Run the show.
Billy Gilmour is special. ??????? pic.twitter.com/xKpnZqOQe9
– 90min (@ 90min_Football) June 18, 2021
The relationship between Tuchel and Norwich boss Daniel Farke seems to have helped. The latter was Borussia Dortmund’s B team manager while Tuchel was in charge there, and it seems that the Chelsea manager is confident in his abilities to nurture young talent.
It is widely known that there is a future for Gilmour at Stamford Bridge, but Chelsea feel that a season of consistent football is the best next step for him. Despite his huge progress over the last two years, he is not really regular on the Chelsea side yet – he only managed four games during Tuchel last season.
At Norwich, he will work alongside Rangers alumnus Kenny McLean, hoping that first-team football will cement him as a start for Scotland, and indeed for Chelsea when he returns to Stamford Bridge.
