The 'next couple of days' are crucial for Billy Gilmour's future as Everton push to sign him. 

That's according to football journalist Fraser Fletcher, who has worked for the BBC.

The lowdown

Gilmour spent the 2021/22 campaign on loan at Norwich City and it looks like he's about to depart Stamford Bridge again, having failed to convince Thomas Tuchel that he should be part of the Chelsea first-team set-up for next season.

Nizaar Kinsella, a journalist for The London Evening Standard, reported on Monday that the Scotland international 'has left Chelsea's first-team squad', who are on a pre-season tour of the United States, and headed back to the UK.

Thomas Tuchel later explained that he needed to reduce the size of his squad, so he had sent Broja to train with the under-23s at Cobham.

Kinsella felt that was 'quite revealing about his future' in relation to Gilmour.

The latest

Fletcher tweeted that 'a number of clubs are negotiating' with Chelsea over a potential loan deal for the 21-year-old Scotsman.

The journalist outlined: "A number of clubs are negotiating bringing Chelsea Billy Gilmour on loan. Frank Lampard very keen to have him at Everton pushing among other PL clubs. Chelsea have dropped him from squad as future is decided over next couple of days."

[web_stories_embed url="https://www.footballtransfertavern.com/web-stories/everton-news-7/" title="Everton news!" poster="" width="360" height="600" align="none"]

The verdict

Lampard managed Gilmour during his spell in the Chelsea dugout and handed him his senior debut with the Blues, and the current Everton boss has backed the youngster to enjoy a 'great career'.

Meanwhile, Graeme Souness has dubbed his compatriot 'an absolute delight' and a 'fabulous little football player'.

Everton do need at least one new midfielder after Fabian Delph left the club at the end of last season, and Gilmour is capable of operating both as a number 8and as a number 6.

The 21-year-old, who records high volumes of passes, progressive passes and pressures, is similar in profile to Wolves' Ruben Neves, according to FBRef.

He could bolster the Everton squad without eating into their transfer budget for the summer window if Lampard gets his wish to bring him in on loan.