‘Unexpected’: Pat Nevin claims 21-year-old Chelsea player could make his breakthrough in defence next season

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Pat Nevin has suggested Chelsea youngster Ethan Ampadu could make a surprise breakthrough at Stamford Bridge next season.

Ampadu, 21, is a talented Blues player that’s spent this season out on loan.

The Wales international, who can play in defence or midfield, has been a regular in Serie A for Venezia. Unfortunately, his loan club were relegated from the Italian top flight with 27 points in a 38-game league campaign.

He’ll now return to Chelsea from his loan abroad ahead of pre-season, but it’s unclear on where he’ll be playing next year.

Ampadu breakthrough at Chelsea?

Nevin has suggested that Ampadu could manage to emulate Blues centre-backs Malang Sarr and Trevoh Chalobah by breaking into the Chelsea defence. The aforementioned duo ended up as first-team players this season, something few would have expected last summer.

“Look at the unexpected jump Malang Sarr and Trevoh Chalobah made this season. What is to stop someone like an Ethan Ampadu maybe doing the same this time round, as well as Gilmour and maybe Conor Gallagher,” Nevin wrote.

Welshman’s future

On paper, Ampadu is someone that could be very useful to Thomas Tuchel’s squad at Chelsea.

He’s got the versatility to play a number of roles and is a talent that’s improving.

However, it’s previously been reported the club have decided to let him go in this summer’s transfer window. Championship sides Swansea City, Bournemouth, Middlesbrough and Huddersfield Town are all meant to be interested.

It’s going to be very interesting to see how the next couple of months plays out for him.

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