Premier League youngster Ethan Ampadu shone for Wales in the Nations League and was allegedly wanted by Championship high-flyers Derby County.
Wales manager Ryan Giggs was astounded by Ethan Ampadu’s performance in the 4-1 thrashing of the Republic of Ireland on Thursday night – and so was most of the UK.
The 17-year-old Chelsea prospect made his first ever international start against Martin O’Neill’s side and ran the show from the centre of the park in a quite magnificent performance, capped by a brilliant assist for Aaron Ramsey’s second-half goal.
“Ethan is going to be a magnificent player and I was really pleased with his performance tonight,” Giggs said in quotes reported by the Sun after Wales’ crushing Nations League opener.
And, according to Sky Sports pundit Scott Minto, Ampadu could have been learning the ropes under Frank Lampard at Derby County this season if it had not been for Chelsea’s desire to keep him at Stamford Bridge.
“I know Derby tried to sign him on a season loan, I also know that Maurizio Sarri said no,” Minto, who played for Chelsea between 1993 and 1997 and has hosted Sky’s EFL coverage for the last three years, claimed on Sky Sports (6 September, broadcast 7:45pm).
Former Exeter City wonder-kid Ampadu has not made a single appearance for Chelsea’s first-team so far this season.
Derby, meanwhile, did manage to land one Stamford Bridge starlet in Mason Mount, who has been a revelation under Lampard at Pride Park.
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