Billy Gilmour is ‘likely’ to stay at Chelsea for the remainder of the season despite interest from Southampton in a loan deal for the midfielder.
Gilmour is understood to have been considering his immediate future at Chelsea after being omitted from Thomas Tuchel’s first two match-day squads at Stamford Bridge, with the teenager keen to secure regular minutes and continue his development after breaking into the senior side last season.
The 19-year-old has made just three starts in all competitions so far this season and several sides are reported to have expressed an interest in signing him on a short-term loan, though The Athletic understand that a loan move is unlikely before the transfer window’s closure today.
Chelsea face a congested fixture schedule over the coming months and there is a chance Gilmour could be handed increased opportunities during that time, the midfielder hopeful of impressing and earning his place in the Scotland squad for this summer’s European Championships.
Gilmour is expected to remain at Chelsea and compete for a first-team place, rather than spend time adjusting to a new club and environment for only a limited period of regular football over the second half of the season.
Should his prospects not improve for the west London side, however, a loan move will be reassessed during the summer ahead of a potential departure on a season-long agreement with several Premier League sides likely to be interested in the highly-rated teenager.
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