Chelsea’s decision to sell Billy Gilmour to Brighton & Hove Albion on transfer deadline day was actioned by Todd Boehly and the board, rather than former boss Thomas Tuchel.
What’s the word?
That is according to a report from journalist Simon Phillips, who understands that the club were advised by specialists who told them that the 21-year-old midfielder would likely fail to reach the level that had been previously anticipated, in what is a report contrasting that of last week.
Speaking to GIVEMESPORT, Phillips said: “[Selling] Billy Gilmour was actually a Chelsea board decision. I’ve had that on good authority.
“Although Tuchel didn’t really rate him, it was the board’s decision to sell him because they’d been advised by specialists or tacticians or scouts that they didn’t think that Gilmour was going to be the player that they would expect him to be.
“So, they allowed him to go to Brighton and I think for Gilmour, because he didn’t want to go on loan anywhere, this was all he wanted to do.”
£9m blunder?
Whilst 21-year-old Gilmour endured a lacklustre spell on loan at Norwich last season, he was not exactly blessed with the best platform to showcase his ability – which is mainly throughout the in-possession phase.
Norwich struggled to keep possession last season and ranked 16th for possession metrics with an average of just 42.6% possession.
But whilst there was limited opportunity for Gilmour upon his return to then-parent club Chelsea, a loan move would have suited the Blues much better.
Selling the asset for £9million represents a risk in itself, with the Scotland international possessing the potential to blow that fee out of the park, in a scenario that would metaphorically leave Chelsea with egg on their face.
Instead, though, Gilmour clearly fancied his chances elsewhere, which seemingly complimented the advice given to Boehly by the Chelsea specialists.
