Newcastle United have reportedly plotted a double loan raid on Chelsea for Malang Sarr and Ethan Ampadu, although they will only be able to sign one of them.
According to a report by Daily Express, Newcastle United are intensifying their efforts to bolster their squad late in the summer transfer window. To that end, the Magpies have turned their focus towards Chelsea, with Malang Sarr and Ethan Ampadu emerging as potential loan targets for them.
Ethan Ampadu was once regarded as the next big thing at Chelsea, with the hype around him only intensifying after he made his first-team debut aged just days after his 17th birthday. However, over the last few years, that hype has died down considerably, especially after sub-par loan spells at RB Leipzig and Sheffield United.
To date, the 20-year-old has managed just 12 appearances for Chelsea and does not seem to be in Thomas Tuchel’s plans for the season, with even Trevoh Chalobah usurping him in the first-team setup. Another defender who does not seem to be catching a break at Chelsea is Malang Sarr.
Having arrived at the west London club last summer from OGC Nice, the 22-year-old was sent out on loan to FC Porto immediately, making just 19 appearances for their first-team. Now back at Chelsea, it looks like Sarr could be on his way out of Stamford Bridge on loan for a second summer in a row, with Newcastle United interested in his services.
Newcastle United have been reported to be in the market over a loan move for a centre-back this summer, having been linked with Nathaniel Phillips for a long time. The eagerness to sign a central defender is understandable considering Jamaal Lascelles has proven to be injury prone in the last few years.
As a result, pursuing a move for Sarr and Ampadu does make sense, seeing as the links over Phillips have gone cold. However, Newcastle will only be able to secure the services of one of the Chelsea defenders, with Premier League rules stipulating that “clubs cannot register more than two players on loan at one time while borrowing two players from the same club is completely off-limits”.
Having said that, it remains to be seen which of Ampadu and Sarr end up making their way to St. James’ Park this summer. Newcastle have already signed one player from a London club in Joe Willock and it will be interesting to see if a Chelsea defender joins the club next.