Thomas Tuchel’s Chelsea are not yet ready to send Ethan Ampadu out on loan amid interest from Steve Bruce’s Newcastle United, according to Goal.
What’s the story?
Goal have reported that Chelsea are keeping Ampadu around the first team for now.
The 20-year-old can play in defence or in defensive midfield.
Chelsea, who won the Champions League last season, are not yet ready to accept loan offers for the Wales international.
The former Exeter City youngster has a chance of being part of Tuchel’s first-team squad this season.
Blow for Newcastle United
Chelsea’s current stance on Ampadu is a blow for Newcastle.
That’s because the Magpies want to sign the youngster on a loan deal, according to a report in The Express this week.
Newcastle manager Bruce is considering signing Ampadu or his Chelsea teammate Malang Sarr on loan from Chelsea in the summer transfer window.
Ampadu is a very highly rated young player who has played 26 times already for Wales.
Former Chelsea manager Antonio Conte spoke highly of the youngster when he was in charge of the London club.
ESPN quoted Conte as saying in January 2018: “He’s showing in every game that I made this decision with him — against Everton, against Bournemouth [in the Carabao Cup] — that he’s ready. That he’s ready to face this type of game. To play with the right concentration. To be ready physically and tactically. To play at this level.
”This [physical and tactical quality] is unusual for a player who is only 17 years old. But that shows, at the same time, that age is not important.
“The most important thing is that you show, when I give you the chance to play, you repay me with a good performance. We are talking about a really good prospect for Chelsea, for the present and the future.”
Newcastle would be a better team with Ampadu in it, but it seems that Chelsea may not let him leave on loan this summer.
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