Graham Potter likes a good chat with any prospective new signing.

He spoke to Billy Gilmour in the hours before the Scotland international was confirmed as an Albion player on a four-year deal.

But Albion’s head coach already had a good idea of what makes the 21-year-old tick. Of course he did.

Now he looks forward to exploring the full potential of the midfielder signed from Chelsea.

Asked whether he liked a good preliminary chat, almost a job interview ,with new signings, Potter said: “It depends on the context, depends on when we do the signing.

“Most of the time yes, via me or indirectly, Kyle (Macaulay) or one of the other staff.

“Most of the time I like to speak to them.

“I spoke to him yesterday.

“But because we are really aware of him and done our research, we were really confident with him and comfortable with a relatively quick time that it happened.”

Gilmour could operate deep in midfield, although that is an area where Alexis Mac Allister and Mouses Caicedo are off to a fine start to the season.

But there are other possibilities, maybe further forward.

Potter said: “That’s the exciting bit. These things develop over time.

“The more we get to know him, the more we understand how he can help us and how can he function within our team.

“It’s always about the relationship he has with the players around him.

“I wouldn’t say he is just one position, he can play in a few areas in midfield.

“But it’s not necessarily about the position, more about what you are asking him to do when we have the ball, when we don’t have the ball, his role in the team.

“If that suits him and is getting the most out of his qualities, then that can make sense.”

Gilmour joins Tariq Lamptey and on-loan Levi Colwill in what is becoming a Chelsea link-up within the Albion squad.

Potter said: “It’s a bit a coincidence. Of course, clubs like that have big resources and have good players - but realistically they can’t all play.

“All three players you mentioned have different situations, different circumstances.

“We just tried to take them on their individual merits on a case-by-case basis.”

So is there an unpolished gem there?

The names Mo Salah and Kevin De Bruyne were mentioned as the press conference continued.

As players let go by Chelsea who have gone on to become global stars.

Can Potter get far more from these three than they have already shown?

The Seagulls boss said: “They are ambitious.

“They want to learn, they want to improve, they want to take their careers forward and go on a journey with us.

“So there’s lots of things to like about them.

“At big clubs it’s not easy to get into the first team.

“So, you have to have ambition, you have to have determination.

“You have to think, ‘Okay, we need to go in a different direction in our career, whatever that looks like’.

“It’s an opportunity to learn from all the experiences you’ve had and then try to forge your own career in a different context, in a different environment.

“That’s hopefully what we can them here.

“We will do our best to ensure they enjoy their football.”

Asked about leaving the west London club, Gilmour said: “Of course, it was a tough decision but I wanted to play football.

“That was the main aim for me.

“Come and enjoy my football, get regular games, so it was a bit of a no-brainer.”