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Opinion: Rangers will now be frustrated as former player starts to shine

Glasgow Rangers will be starting to look back on the exit of youth-team protege Billy Gilmour with regret, as the youngster starts to make an impression with Chelsea.

After breaking into the Blues first-team since the turn of the year, the Scottish central midfielder has been gaining plaudits for his maturity and ability.

Former Manchester United hero Roy Keane recently labelled Gilmour as “looking world-class” after the ex-Rangers starlet put a man of the match performance in against Liverpool.

It was an amazing recommendation from one of the best midfield players ever to grace English football and European competitions.

Pedro Caixinha was the Rangers manager when 16-year-old Gilmour’s family were informed that Chelsea had made an approach to sign the rising star.

The Portuguese manager spoke to the player’s parents in a bid to keep his undoubted potential in Glasgow, unfortunately, it was all to no avail.

Rangers did everything in their power to hold on to a major talent.

Perhaps if current boss Steven Gerrard was at Ibrox at the time, Gilmour might have been persuaded to stay.

After several professional offers to try and keep him, Rangers were unable to talk the player out of signing for Chelsea.

The Gers had no option but to let him go for around £500,000 – but thankfully for the Ibrox side, a 15% sell-on clause was included in the contract.

Rangers could certainly do with Gilmour this season, as he is always looking to pass the ball forward – something the Gers need to get back to winning ways.

Watching the youngster’s two outstanding recent performances against great teams shows that Rangers are missing that forward-thinking midfielder.

The Ibrox club’s loss is undoubtedly Chelsea’s gain, as another player slipped out the front door for very little return, as others have before.

He’s already shown Lampard the array of skills required to make it to the very top in the Premier League. Consistency is the next thing to prove.

For Rangers, Gerrard needs to find players that can become more positive with the ball at their feet, like Gilmour, and stop passing so many balls sideways and backwards.

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