Derby have advantage over Aston Villa in reported Ethan Ampadu chase

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Ethan Ampadu has not made a Premier League appearance for Chelsea and Championship duo Aston Villa and Derby County could take full advantage.

Ethan Ampadu is in a rather odd position right now. He is a regular for the Wales national team but cannot get anywhere near the starting XI at Chelsea.

The 18-year-old has shone at international level of late, producing a midfield masterclass as Wales thrashed the Republic of Ireland 4-1 in September. But, at the same time, he has not been included in a single Premier League squad under Maurizio Sarri.

So leaving Stamford Bridge on loan looks like a great idea on paper.

According to the Birmingham Mail, Championship duo Aston Villa and Derby County are both keen to bring the former Exeter City wonder kid to the second tier and give him a chance to play regular first-team football.

Dean Smith is the current manager of Villa and his tendency to get the best out of his young players, particularly the technically gifted ones like Ampadu, suggests that the teenager could thrive in claret and blue.

But what chance do Villa really have with Chelsea legend Frank Lampard, and Ampadu’s former Blues academy coach Jody Morris, in the Derby dugout?

Lampard has already used his Chelsea connections to bring Mason Mount and Fikayo Tomori to Pride Park on temporary deals, so the Rams surely have a major advantage over Villa if Ampadu is allowed to leave.