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Daily Record
Daily Record
Sport
Mark Pirie

Billy Gilmour wants Rangers transfer 'in his heart' but Brighton star handed major caveat over loan return

Pundit Andy Walker reckons Billy Gilmour 's heart would be in a return to Rangers in January - but his bank balance could lead the midfielder elsewhere.

Gilmour left the Ibrox academy for Stamford Bridge as a teenager and looked set to be the next big thing in the English top flight as he made his first-team breakthrough under Frank Lampard. However, a disappointing loan move to Norwich City didn't help kickstart his career last term during their doomed English Premier League survival bid, and things haven't got any better since his move to Brighton.

Since the arrival of Roberto De Zerbi he has barely had a look-in and has racked up just five appearances this term with his only start coming in the EFL Cup win over Arsenal. That has sparked calls from some punters over a return north of the border to kickstart Michael Beale 's overhaul of the Ibrox first-team.

Reports south of the border suggest the Scotland international is open to a loan move to kickstart his career, and former Celtic star Walker fielded questions from callers on The Go Radio Football Show over the prospect of a move to Rangers. Walker responded: "He is 21 and we all raved about him when he pretty much dominated the game at Wembley for Scotland against England at the Euros.

BRIGHTON, ENGLAND - SEPTEMBER 04: Billy Gilmour of Brighton and Hove Albion during the Premier League match between Brighton & Hove Albion and Leicester City at American Express Community Stadium on September 4, 2022 in Brighton, United Kingdom. (Photo by Jacques Feeney/Offside/Offside via Getty Images) (Getty Images)

"He has just fallen away. He has not really been as prominent as we thought he would be. I think we all thought it would be a good move when he joined Brighton, when of course Graham Potter was there, but he has left and gone to Chelsea.

"He has been out of the side. I certainly think he needs to play. Whether he wants to come back; I think it's really difficult to leave the richest, most competitive leave in Europe when you know you can perform there.

"Billy Gilmour has done that for Chelsea in a number of games, but he is not doing it every week. Again, I think his heart is probably in Scotland with Rangers at Ibrox, but I'm not sure he would want to leave the Premier League in England.

"I think you will be guaranteed that Michael Beale has a good knowledge of players in the Premier League, Championship and below that. Players who may be stagnating at a club and need an opportunity to play, and I'm sure he will use his contacts to bring in someone we don't know about who will do well up here."

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