Andy Walker believes Billy Gilmour would love a return to Rangers in January - but leaving the English Premier League could prove difficult for the midfielder.
The Light Blues lost the talented star to Chelsea as a youngster when at Ibrox and he has gone on to play at the top level at the Blues before making a switch to English Premier League rivals Brighton in the summer in the search of regular game-time. He joined under Graham Potter - who left the Seagulls for his former club - and his chances at present have been very limited.
The Scotland international - a regular feature in Steve Clarke's squads - is believed to be open to a loan move away from his new club in order to nail down some crucial first-team minutes. New Rangers boss Michael Beale has been tipped to make a bid to land the former Ibrox kid next month and while former Celtic man Walker believes his 'heart' is in Scotland with Rangers - he's not so sure departing England's top flight would appeal.
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Speaking about the situation on Go Radio, Walker said: "He is 21 and we all raved about him when he pretty much dominated the game at Wembley for Scotland against England at the Euros.
"He has just fallen away. He has not really been as prominent as we thought he would be. I think we all thought it would be a good move when he joined Brighton, when of course Graham Potter was there, but he has left and gone to Chelsea.
"He has been out of the side. I certainly think he needs to play. Whether he wants to come back; I think it's really difficult to leave the richest, most competitive leave in Europe when you know you can perform there.
"Billy Gilmour has done that for Chelsea in a number of games, but he is not doing it every week. Again, I think his heart is probably in Scotland with Rangers at Ibrox, but I'm not sure he would want to leave the Premier League in England.
"I think you will be guaranteed that Michael Beale has a good knowledge of players in the Premier League, Championship and below that. Players who may be stagnating at a club and need an opportunity to play, and I'm sure he will use his contacts to bring in someone we don't know about who will do well up here."
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