Norwich 'closing in' on Billy Gilmour loan deal

Norwich are on the verge of signing highly-rated Scotland midfielder Billy Gilmour on loan from Chelsea, with Thomas Tuchel deciding regular Premier League football is the way forward for the 20-year-old next season.

Gilmour stole headlines at Euro 2020 with a stunning performance against England at Wembley. He ran the show as Scotland held their old rivals to a 0-0 draw, and justified the longstanding clamour from fans to see him involved on the international stage.

The Wembley clash saw him make his full international debut. He picked up the man of the match award and made such an impact that Steve Clarke seemed set to start him a few days later against Croatia. But fate had other plans, and a positive Covid test ended Gilmour's Euros in heartbreaking fashion.

With Scotland bowing out thanks to a Luka Modric masterclass at Hampden, Gilmour's attentions turned back to club football, where he had various options on the table for 2021/22. There was reported interest from his former club Rangers, but despite the prospect of European football at Ibrox, Chelsea's preference has always been to send him out to another Premier League club.

That's where Norwich enter the fray. The Canaries are preparing for their return to the top flight after storming the Championship last term, and it emerged last week that they are keen to bring in Gilmour and offer him regular top-flight football.

It is now being reported by Sky Sports that Norwich are 'closing in' on the deal that would make him their third summer signing.

The relationship between Tuchel and Norwich boss Daniel Farke seems to have helped matters along. The latter was the Borussia Dortmund B-team manager while Tuchel was in charge there, and it seems the Chelsea boss is confident in his abilities to nurture young talent.

It's widely understood that there is a future for Gilmour at Stamford Bridge, but Chelsea feel a season of consistent football is the best next step for him. Despite his huge strides forward over the past two years, he isn't quite a regular in the Chelsea side just yet - he only managed four appearances under Tuchel last season.

At Norwich, he'll work alongside fellow Rangers alumnus Kenny McLean, and hope that first-team football cements him as a starter for Scotland, and indeed for Chelsea when he returns to Stamford Bridge.