Chelsea starlet Billy Gilmour is set to join Brighton & Hove Albion.
According to Fabrizio Romano on Twitter, Chelsea starlet Billy Gilmour is set to make a move to fellow Premier League side Brighton & Hove Albion.
The Scottish international broke into the first team during Frank Lampard’s spell at Stamford Bridge and is one of the best young talents on the club’s roster. He is coming off a disappointing loan spell at Norwich City where he struggled for form and opportunities.
Gilmour returned to Chelsea in the summer and was part of the club’s pre-season trip to the United States. However, he was sent back home and was even demoted to the Under 23 squad. With Conor Gallagher and potentially Edson Alvarez adding to the midfield roster, Gallagher will have a tough time working his way back into Thomas Tuchel’s plans.
At 21, Gilmour is at the stage of his career where he should play regularly. Having to go back to the reserve side after a taste of top-level football will be extremely detrimental to his development. Having already suffered a sense of what it is to stagnate at Carrow Road, it makes perfect sense for him to avoid a repeat of the same fate at Stamford Bridge.
Brighton are emerging as an exciting young side in the top flight, and Graham Potter has shown an eye for developing young talent. Playing under the Englishman at The Amex is exactly what a player of Gilmour’s abilities requires to step up his game. Playing him alongside Moises Caicedo should give the Seagulls a solid base off which the likes of Pascal Gross can focus on offensive contributions.
The Scottish international is set to fly out to Brighton for his medical in the upcoming hours. Brighton’s improved bid was accepted by Chelsea, and the move appears to be all but done. Unless there is a late change of events, Gilmour should soon don the white and blue stripes of Brighton. Whether the deal will involve a buyback clause remains to be seen.
Chelsea have focussed on bringing in promising youth stars this summer, and it makes little sense for them to let go of a promising talent already in their ranks. Whether it will be something that will come back to bite them in the future remains to be seen.
