Transfer News: Empoli are interested in Chelsea centre-back Ethan Ampadu
Serie A side Empoli are interested in taking Chelsea centre-back Ethan Ampadu on a season-long deal this summer. This is according to the Daily Mail, which reports the Italian side’s interest.
Ampadu spent the last season on loan at another Serie A side Venezia. The 21-year-old was impressive during his time at the club but couldn’t help his side avoid relegation.
The 21-year-old was included in the pre-season squad by Thomas Tuchel and even travelled with the squad. However, he seems to have failed to impress his coach as Chelsea have not allotted a squad number to the Wales international.
This would indicate that he is not part of Tuchel’s plan for this season. He was also not included in the squad by Tuchel during his side’s 1-0 win against Everton last Saturday.
Ampadu has already spent three seasons on loan at different clubs. Should this move go through, this would be his fourth loan spell and second in Italy’s top flight. He made a total of 30 appearances for Venezia last season in all competitions.
Tuchel is still to solve his backline issues. Adding another centre-back would be the most logical thing to do. The young defenders are still developing and can’t be trusted to start big matches for the club yet. Another experienced centre-back is the need of the hour.
Ampadu himself will hope to get some more playing time this season as he eyes a seat in the Wales International team for the World Cup in Qatar. The 21-year-old played every minute of Wales’s Nations League campaign and also their World Cup play-off game against Ukraine.
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Staying at Chelsea will give him very limited playing time and this could hamper his ambitions. A loan move will benefit both the player and club. The player can get his desired playing time, while the club will be happy that their 21-year-old is getting more experience.