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Chelsea starlet Billy Gilmour 'looking to complete loan' after Euro 2020 Covid isolation
Billy Gilmour looks set to earn some vital first-team minutes in the Premier League next season.
Chelsea: The first six fixtures of the 2021/22 Premier League
Chelsea midfielder Billy Gilmour will reportedly join Norwich City on loan next season as the Scotland international seeks regular Premier League football.
The newly-promoted side are set to add the 20-year-old to their ranks ahead of their return to the top-flight and could complete a deal once he emerges from self-isolation this week.
Gilmour broke into the Chelsea first team under Frank Lampard and starred in a 2-0 FA Cup victory over Liverpool in March 2020.
However, the Scot struggled for frequent game time after Lampard was replaced by Thomas Tuchel in January.
Gilmour made just five appearances under the 47-year-old compared to 17 under Tuchel’s predecessor.
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He often found himself on the substitutes’ bench or maintaining his fitness by playing matches for the U23s.
Gilmour was a substitute for both Champions League semi-final legs against Real Madrid before also sitting in reserve for the final victory over Manchester City.
But he now looks set to earn game time on loan at Norwich next season after impressing for Scotland at Euro 2020.
Gilmour is currently self-isolating after testing positive for coronavirus during the Euros campaign but will complete a move to the Canaries when his quarantine ends on Wednesday according to The Athletic.
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The deal could be completed on Thursday.
Tuchel hinted that Gilmour could spend next season out on loan after he withdrew him at half-time during Chelsea’s 1-0 defeat against Arsenal in May.
The German said that talks would take place following the end of the season, although they may have been impacted by Gilmour’s inclusion in the Scotland Euro 2020 squad and then subsequent isolation period.
But it seems that the former Rangers starlet will get regular first-team minutes in a temporary deal next term.
“Well, that was an absolutely okay performance [by Gilmour],” Tuchel said following a rare loss for Chelsea under his management.
“We saw they [Arsenal] defended so deep, so we wanted to have Mason [Mount] who has a better shot from 20 metres to maybe be more dangerous from distance and have an offensive player like Mason there.
“It wasn't because Billy was bad that we took him off. It was a tactical change where we tried to put more offensive power.
"For Billy's situation, we will talk after the season.
“Right not he is here and is doing his job.
“It's clear it's very hard for him because we lacked today N'Golo [Kante] and Mateo Kovacic in midfield and they are huge for us.
“It's not fair to this all on his shoulders but he did a fantastic match at [Man City] and an absolutely okay match today.
“He was certainly not the problem.”