Barry Ferguson would LOVE to see Billy Gilmour back at Rangers after admitting he should consider his Brighton future this summer.
The former Light Blues kid left Chelsea to join Graham Potter at Brighton only for the Seagulls boss to make the same move in the opposite direction just weeks later. It's been a tough season on the whole for Gilmour with game time limited due to the form of Roberto De Zerbi's first-choice midfield pairing of Alexis Mac Allister and Moises Caicedo.
One lifted the World Cup with Argentina while the other was the subject of monster bids from Arsenal and Chelsea for his services in January, all batted away by the Seagulls. Ibrox legend Ferguson is a HUGE fan of the midfielder and sees him as the kind of player Steve Clarke needs to take Scotland to that next level - but he needs to be playing week in, week out.
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Ferguson knows that his next move is a big decision but he needs to find somewhere that he is going to play more than just 334 minutes of club football to date. He would love nothing more than to see him run out at Ibrox under Michael Beale but can't see it happening - even on loan - due to the kind of wages he is likely on at the English Premier League club.
Speaking in is Daily Record column, the Rangers hero explained: "There's no bigger fan of Billy Gilmour than me. I’ve long seen the Brighton kid as the future of this Scotland (national team) side and I really think he’s the kind of player Steve Clarke will need if he’s to take his side to the next level. But the manager also needs him to be playing games and unfortunately his Seagulls move has fallen flat on the front.
"I feel for the wee man. He made the move to the south coast on the understanding that Graham Potter was a big fan of him - only for Potter to then just a few weeks later head in the direction from which Gilmour had just come after being hired by Chelsea.
"Since then, Brighton have really kicked on under Roberto de Zerbi and there’s been no chance for Billy to break back in. At 21, however, he needs to be playing more than the 10 games he’s registered this season, totalling a measly 334 minutes of club football.
"That’s why I think he should consider moving on again this summer. It’s a big decision and I get he won’t want to uproot again but for his sake - and Scotland’s - he needs to find somewhere that he’s going to get regular action.
"I’d love to see him back at Rangers but unfortunately I just don’t see it. Brighton got him for a bargain when they paid just over £8million to lure him from Stamford Bridge but I think you’d still be surprised by the kind of wages he’d be on and sadly I think that may scupper any hopes for an Ibrox return, even on loan."
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