Revealed: The Chelsea star warned in advance of Tuchel sacking
Robin Bairner
- 14 Sept 2022 13:25 BST
- 3 min read
Billy Gilmour was given a hint by Chelsea owner Todd Boehly that Thomas Tuchel was about to be sacked, a report has claimed.
Gilmour departed Stamford Bridge on Transfer Deadline Day for Brighton, but it is said that Boehly did not want the Scotland international to depart the club. Tuchel, though, had already told him he was not part of his plans and was only belatedly given a Premier League squad number of 35.
The 21-year-old ultimately left Stamford Bridge to join the Seagulls in a deal worth £9 million, having been sold on the club by manager Graham Potter.
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In an ironic twist, though, Tuchel would be sacked by Chelsea a week later, with Potter moving in the opposite direction.
The Athletic reports, though, that Gilmour was warned of this eventuality.
Boehly told Gilmour to stay
Happy Gilmour. 😁 @BillyGilmourrr 🏴 pic.twitter.com/5csIYcPrZw
— Brighton & Hove Albion (@OfficialBHAFC) September 1, 2022
According to the report, Boehly held a meeting with Gilmour in which he strongly implied that he should wait for his chance at Stamford Bridge and that the situation could still change. He further argued that even if Gilmour was still struggling to find game time, the upcoming World Cup meant that he might only miss a limited amount of football before the January transfer window opened and offered him another opportunity to leave.
The midfielder, who had a failed loan spell at Norwich last season, insisted on leaving the club and a permanent move was soon thrashed out.
Gilmour, who came through the academies at Rangers and Stamford Bridge, only played a total of 22 times for Chelsea’s first team before finally moving on. The timing of his transfer, though, will clearly be a source of frustration for all involved.
