‘Brilliant to see’ – Darren Jackson raves about Rangers-linked ace after reported approach made
Former Celtic striker Darren Jackson has been raving about Billy Gilmour after the Chelsea youngster was linked with a loan move to Rangers.
According to the Scottish Sun, the Light Blues have approached Chelsea about re-signing their former academy product, who has played just twice for the Premier League club this season after returning from a spell on the sidelines with a knee injury.
While Sky Sports News presenter Jim White has since reported that Chelsea have no interest in sending Gilmour, 19, out on loan in the January transfer window, former Scotland striker Jackson claims that if a temporary move away from West London is up for grabs, the youngster might want to take it.
“He’s a huge talent and obviously Frank Lampard knows that and he sees that every single day,” Jackson told PLZ Soccer’s Football Show.
“He will see his desire. I’ve spoken about it before and people are probably bored of it but it’s desire.
“Lampard will be asked ‘what does Billy do best?’. He does the basics very well. In training, in warm-ups, in everything he does, it’s to the maximum of his ability.
“It’s brilliant to see.
“If Billy’s going out on loan – I think a team mentioned was Napoli – if he is to go out on loan, there’s going to be a list the length of your arm for him.
“It will really benefit him.
“If Lampard says ‘you’re going to stay, you’ll be in and amongst [the squad]’, I think he’ll stay. But I think Billy will want to play and want to go and learn at a good level.”
Lampard must have plans for Gilmour for the rest of the season but it is surely going to be tougher for the Scotland Under-21 midfielder to break into the Chelsea first-team this term.
In the summer, Chelsea spent a lot of money on players like Kai Havertz, who have bumped Gilmour down the pecking order.
It also hasn’t helped the teenager that he’s had a long spell out with a knee injury.
Chelsea are one club in the world that do not need to be reminded about how useful the loan system can be but do Rangers really need him?
As good as Gilmour is and as good as he could become, it would be a bit of a pointless loan signing by Steven Gerrard as he already has plenty of central midfield options who are playing so well.
We’d rather see players brought into other areas of the squad in January. Maybe another winger and a back-up right-back.
In other Rangers news, Allan McGregor is blown away by this Gers youngster.