Chelsea 18-year-old Ethan Ampadu is considered a future alternative to Jorginho in Maurizio Sarri’s line-up.
Ampadu, aged 16 at the time of his Chelsea move, cost the five-time Premier League winners £2.5m.
That figure was determined by a tribunal due to his age and the fact he had not signed a professional contract with Exeter. But such is Ampadu’s potential, the multi-million-pound fee was declared “disappointing for football” by the League Two club.
And although just 18 months have passed, Chelsea’s current head coach, Sarri, has now decided to grant Ampadu an opportunity to earn a place at the heart of the senior starting XI.
Who is Ethan Ampadu? Five things to know…
- Age: 18 (14/09/2000)
- Position(s): centre-back, defensive midfield
- Senior career path: Exeter City (2016 – 2017) > Chelsea (2017 – present)
- Total senior appearances: 28
- Key fact: Ethan Ampadu is the first player born in the 21st century to represent Chelsea.
Sarri has set Chelsea up in a 4-3-3 formation this season with Jorginho, a £57m signing from his former club Napoli, operating at the base of a midfield trio.
However, with Cesc Fabregas having left for Monaco the Blues, Sarri feels Chelsea’s need for a new back-up holding midfielder is urgent.
The west London club is reported to have made a £27m bid for Zenit St Petersburg midfielder Leandro Paredes, but Sarri also suggested Chelsea currently have a player he is willing to try out in the position at some point in the future.
Asked if Ampadu could serve as Jorginho’s understudy, manager Maurizio Sarri said: “In the future, maybe. Playing as a central midfielder in our team is not easy.
He added: “We need to try and try and try in training. But I think he is able to do it.”
Ethan Ampadu's game by numbers vs. the Republic of Ireland:
66 minutes
45 touches
3 tackles won
2 aerial duels won
2 interceptions
2 clearances
1 assistMature beyond his years.
pic.twitter.com/Isu27Ybkr8
— Squawka Football (@Squawka) September 6, 2018
Ampadu made his senior debut for League Two side Exeter aged 15 years 10 months and 26 days in August 2016. He would go on to earn his first cap for Wales’ senior national side around a year later and has made six international appearances to date.
Ampadu has used at both centre half and in midfield for Chelsea’s senior side, but Ampadu been compared to Welsh midfielder Aaron Ramsey in terms of ability. He has also been tipped to become a Chelsea captain in the future.
Why do Chelsea need a Jorginho alternative?
Jorginho was criticised by Sarri following Saturday’s win over Newcastle. The Brazilian-born Italy international lost possession 31 times during the 2-1 victory, the most any Blues midfielder has lost the ball in a single Premier League game this season.
Despite this performance, Jorginho has generally proved to be a top-class addition, breaking Premier League passing records and helping Sarri implement his tactics at Stamford Bridge. He has made 21 appearances in the Premier League for Chelsea this season overall.
The fact he has missed only one game, however, shows just how heavily the Italian coach has relied upon him this season. Chelsea’s other midfielders – N’Golo Kante, Ross Barkley Mateo Kovacic and Ruben Loftus-Cheek – have been used in more advanced roles, while Danny Drinkwater has been told to find a new club.
Ampadu excelled on the right of a midfield three during Chelsea’s 2-0 win against Nottingham Forest in the FA Cup third round, during which Jorginho spent the whole 90 minutes on the bench.
His next trial could come at the end of January when Chelsea play either Luton Town or Sheffield Wednesday in the next round of the competition.
The post Chelsea rising star Ethan Ampadu to try out for Jorginho understudy role appeared first on Squawka News.
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