Harry Redknapp has explained what’s shocked him this season about a Chelsea youngster who’s out on loan away from Stamford Bridge.
Redknapp has said he’s amazed that Billy Gilmour has not played more at Norwich City. The 20-year-old midfielder has linked up with Premier League outfit Norwich on a season-long loan but has struggled for minutes.
He’s a regular for Scotland’s senior international team. The youngster played 22 first-team games for Chelsea before departing on loan, too.
However, the loanee has featured in just six of Norwich’s 13 appearances this season across all competitions.
Redknapp is mystified by Gilmour’s situation because he’s a big fan of the rising talent:
“How he’s not playing there… I saw the kid play when he first got in the Chelsea team, I saw him play in the Euros against England, you’d think if you take him at Norwich you’d have half built your team around him,” he said.
Door open for Gilmour
For Norwich, they are on the search for a new manager after dismissing Daniel Farke just before the international break. They are looking for someone to steer them away from bottom of the Premier League table.
Ex-Chelsea manager Frank Lampard has been strongly linked with the vacant job at Carrow Road, with talkSPORT reporting on Thursday that he was set to be appointed. However, BBC Sport claim on Friday that the 43-year-old is no longer in the running.
It may have been great news for Gilmour to work alongside Lampard again, but it seems like he’ll get no favours from a former manager.
There is definitely a chance for Chelsea’s loaned-out star, though, following Farke’s exit. He needs to be ready to make a big impression on whoever is appointed at Norwich to reignite his loan.
Long-term replacement for Jorginho at Chelsea?
Jorginho, 29, is looking at the peak of his powers right now. There is no reason to think he should be slowing down anytime soon, too.
Gilmour may be the natural successor at Stamford Bridge for the Italian if they’re looking for a young deep-lying playmaker. The Scottish teenager is extremely comfortable on the ball in tight areas and must model part of his game on Jorginho. But, he needs the minutes out on loan to keep improving.
Jack Wilshere has weighed in on the Gilmour situation to suggest he should be played more at Norwich. Likewise, Eddie Newton was singing the youngsters praises back in October.
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