The first group of Chelsea players will return to Cobham this weekend for pre-season training, while those who had international commitments will join a week later or meet the squad in Los Angeles ahead of the club's tour of the USA. Most will have taken the opportunity to relax following a hectic season and ahead of another one, but the likes of Reece James, Ruben Loftus-Cheek, Armando Broja and Mason Mount have taken the opportunity to work with private coaches to help ensure their preparedness.
However, Billy Gilmour took another avenue. The Scotland international has seen his contract extended by a further year until 2024 when Chelsea activated a clause in his deal following his loan spell at Norwich in 2021/22. That has done little to dispel talk of Gilmour linking up with Frank Lampard at Everton.
The 21-year-old has spent some time this pre-season training with another club. It's nothing for fans of him in Chelsea colours to worry about yet.
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Gilmour trained with Glenafton Athletic of New Cumnock, a town in East Ayrshire, who play in the West of Scotland Football League. The midfielder was pictured with Glenafton manager Ryan Stevenson, who spent time at Chelsea during his own youth career. The 37-year-old has claimed 'being a YTS at Chelsea was the best time in my life', having been in the same youth team as the likes of Carlton Cole and Robert Huth under Steve Clarke.
The Glasgow Times suggest Gilmour's friendship with Glenafton player Sam McKee is the reason behind the youngster's connection to the club, with the Chelsea star being a regular in the area. It was Glenafton's second training session of pre-season, where the club were targetting their fitness levels.
The Scottish side tweeted: "This session was geared towards raising the fitness levels of the players for the upcoming season, and we hope the fitness work will be of great assistance to our players and Billy before he returns shortly to Chelsea to start their pre-season preparations.
"Billy is a regular at our games whenever he is back in Scotland, and everyone at the club would like to wish Billy all the best for the upcoming season with Chelsea."
It's not Gilmour's first involvement in football during pre-season. The former Rangers academy product has been unable to keep away from the pitch since leaving Scotland duty in June. The Cobham star played in a charity match to raise funds for a Blairgowrie charity, with the game seeing Stanley Amateurs take on a team of former players to raise money for ManTalk, a mental health charity.
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