Chelsea would like to loan out Billy Gilmour to a top-flight club in England or abroad, according to The Athletic.

There have been reports that the likes of Brighton are looking to snap up the 21-year-old on a permanent deal but he is now expected to leave Stamford Bridge on a temporary basis for a second successive season.

Rangers are in the market for a midfielder, having reportedly considered a move for Standard Liege’s Nicolas Raskin, but there haven’t been any recent links to Gilmour.

Plenty of pundits have, though, backed the Scottish international to return to the Light Blues, where he came through the academy before seeking his fortune in England.

Gilmour’s former teammate, Ross Barkley, has also been linked with a switch to Ibrox, having been released on a free transfer, so it remains to be seen whether either player will end up at Ibrox before the transfer window closes later this week.