Everton manager Frank Lampard has earned the club’s backing in his pursuit of Chelsea midfielder Billy Gilmour, according to talkSPORT.
The lowdown
Journalist Fraser Fletcher reported last week that the Toffees manager is ‘very keen’ to bring the 21-year-old to Goodison Park, and it seems that a move has now won the requisite approval.
After Everton lost 4-0 to MLS outfit Minnesota United on Thursday, Lampard publicly stressed the need to strengthen the squad.
Gilmour returned early from Chelsea’s pre-season tour of the United States as Thomas Tuchel trimmed his squad, indicating that the youngster may not be part of the German’s plans for the new season after spending 2021/22 on loan at Norwich City.
The latest
Journalist Alex Crook wrote in his talkSPORT transfer notebook that Lampard ‘made it clear’ to Everton’s majority shareholder Farhad Moshiri after the defeat against Minnesota that he needs reinforcements. The Iranians has duly responded by green-lighting a move for Gilmour.
Transfer funds are ‘in short supply’, so the move is likely to be a loan. The player himself is ‘understood to be keen on a reunion’ with Lampard, under whom he worked at Chelsea.
The verdict
The door may be shut for Gilmour at Chelsea right now, but that doesn’t mean he can’t realise his potential elsewhere.
Indeed, Scotland manager Steve Clarke has heralded him as ‘the future of Scottish football‘, while tennis player Andy Murray said that Gilmour was his ‘idol‘ after his nation’s draw with England at Euro 2020.
He was playing for a struggling Norwich side last term but, in 2020/21, he featured in two Champions League matches and seven matchday squads en route to Chelsea’s triumph in the competition.
Everton have only signed free agent James Tarkowski so far this summer, and you could argue that they need plenty more additions to stay out of trouble after finishing in 16th last term.
With their season opener against Tuchel’s side just two weeks away, they ought to get a move on.
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