Whelan: Door open for Gilmour to rejoin Rangers after key Chelsea update
Noel Whelan has claimed a temporary move from Chelsea to Rangers could be the “best move” for Billy Gilmour this summer.
The former Leeds and Aberdeen striker, speaking exclusively to Football Insider, suggested the Blues are going to spend big for a second successive summer and that the promising midfielder could be pushed down the pecking order.
As revealed by Football Insider on Friday, the Gers had a genuine interest in re-signing the 19-year-old during the January window and will continue to keep tabs on him ahead of the summer market.
With Leicester City also in the hunt for the teenager, it is understood the Glasgow giants made third-party enquiries last month but Chelsea blocked a move.
New boss Thomas Tuchel has since confirmed the Scotland under-21 star, who has played six times across all competitions this season, is “very, very close” to the side at Stamford Bridge.
Whelan believes the German coach will want to run the rule over his whole squad between now and the end of the season but suggested a move could be on the cards if the Blues sign yet more midfield options.
“Right now I think Tuchel is looking at everybody, as a good manager does,” Whelan told Football Insider assistant editor Russell Edge.
“Options are open, doors are open for every single player, whether they’ve been in the side or out the side so it is not going to happen right now. He still needs time to look at his squad, look at the players, look at the young players that are coming through.
“That will be assessed come the end of the season but we know that Chelsea are going to go out there and strengthen in the summer, there’s no doubt about that. A team like Chelsea cannot afford not to strengthen.
“That might put him back in the pecking order and the loan move might be the best move for him – he’ll be in Europe, he’ll be in the Champions League, he’ll also be in the spotlight for the Scottish FA as well, they’ll be able to watch him regularly which will help them when it comes to the international side.
“You can’t take away good quality young players, they’ve got to be progressing in real-time, in real games and a club like Rangers, where he’ll probably feel a lot more settled because he’s been there before, might be the best move for him.”