Scotland have not produced many great players in the last decade, but one could be along the way if reports are to be believed. Scouts from top Premier League clubs like Manchester United, Tottenham, Chelsea, and Arsenal are battling it out for Rangers wonderkid Billy Gilmour, according to Daily Record. Still only 15, Gilmour is rated as one of the greatest talent to come out of Scotland in the last two decades. It is quite a high praise for a player who is about to turn 16.
Crucially, his age will give English clubs the access to the player without having to worry about any rules infringement. FIFA rules for the under 23 players allows clubs to make an approach and sign players on a free transfer with the need to come up only with a small compensation fee. It is rumoured that Gilmour could be signed for as little as £100,000 – just a week’s wages Spurs currently shell out for Erik Lamela. More than the potential peanuts in terms of transfer fee, clubs are thought to be attracted by the player’s quality.
Several scouts have been in attendance at the Victory Shield tournament in Edinburgh to watch players like Gilmour and possibly more.
Celtic wonderkid Karamoko Dembele will also be taking part in the tournament and he is also one of the rumoured transfer targets of Premier League clubs. At 13, he still has a long way to go before realising his potential.
Gilmour, though, will be an attractive option for a club like Spurs, who are not afraid to give young players a chance. The rise of players like Gareth Bale, Dele Alli, and Harry Kane will give them enough pitching power when it comes to competition with the likes of Chelsea and Manchester United. Even though Spurs may seem an attractive destination due to the first-team opportunities, Rangers are not determined to give in without a fight.
Even if the training compensation fee and other elements are unlikely to be a major worry for Premier League teams, it is rumoured that the youngster’s family wants him to play for Rangers.
In recent years, English clubs have been signing Scottish talent on a regular basis. One of the most high-profile was Chelsea’s capture of Islam Feruz from Celtic. The highly rated youngster had been developed by Celtic from a very young age, but he is now on the books of the 2012 European champions. Unsurprisingly, Feruz’ development appears to have stopped in recent years as the player is now closer towards making a first-team appearance with the blues.
Gilmour made his debut for the Scotland under 17 team back in February.
