Chelsea have confirmed that youngster Ethan Ampadu is set to depart on loan for the 2019/20 season.
Blues head coach Frank Lampard has explained that the 18-year-old is absent from the pre-season because he may be exiting on loan, as cited by the club’s official Twitter account.
Ampadu looks ready to make some sort of impact at Stamford Bridge now and he didn’t look out of place in his 12 senior games last season.
The versatile teenager looks comfortable at centre-back or as a defensive midfielder and has massive potential.
But in the long run a loan deal for the next year does make sense and he could come on leaps and bounds.
Lampard has a key decision about where to send the Welshman, as he needs regular minutes and to be playing at a top standard.
Fikayo Tomori and Mason Mount thrived from spells in the Championship last season, but Chelsea should be targeting a Premier League loan for Ampadu.
Ampadu is already a senior Wales international that is physically capable and he needs time developing at the top level.
He’d be a perfect fit for any of the newly-promoted teams, while he could make an impact at several other top-flight teams too if given the chance.
Ampadu should be a lot closer to challenging the likes of Mateo Kovacic and Jorginho in the deep-lying midfield role if he has a full competitive season under his belt.
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