Serie A clubs Empoli and Cremonese are reportedly in talks to sign Welsh utility man Ethan Ampadu from Chelsea this summer.
According to reputed Italian journalist Gianluca Di Marzio, two more Serie A clubs have joined the race to sign centre-back Ethan Ampadu. The Welsh international spent the 2021/22 season on loan in Italy at Venezia and is thus attracting interest from multiple Italian top flight outfits in the ongoing transfer window.
Ethan Ampadu moved to Chelsea in the 2017 summer transfer window but has not established a foothold in their first team, spending time out on multiple loan deals instead. He made 12 appearances for the Blues senior team in two seasons before being sent out on loan to RB Leipzig in the 2019 summer transfer window.
In Germany, he played just seven matches for Leipzig before Sheffield United came calling for the following season. At Bramall Lane, Ampadu got many more opportunities, playing 25 league matches and 29 overall. The 21-year-old was then shipped to Venezia by Chelsea on a year-long loan deal last summer.
The Welshman was a regular in Italy as well, making 30 appearances across all competitions while also contributing with three assists. But most of those outings did not come in his preferred centre-back position but as a defensive midfielder. He also played at right-back in a couple of matches.
Ampadu has now returned to Stamford Bridge but does not feature in Thomas Tuchel’s plans going forward. The Welsh utility man still has two years left on his contract with Chelsea, and the Blues are open to selling him permanently this summer.
Sampdoria and Spezia have both shown interest in the 21-year-old, with the latter said to be showing serious interest. Empoli and newly-promoted Serie A club Cremonese have now both emerged as potential suitors for the Chelsea man.
Empoli could hold the edge in the transfer race for Ampadu as their manager Paolo Zanetti coached the player last season in Venezia. He would thus prefer joining Zanetti at Empoli as the Italian tactician is well versed with the player’s strengths and weaknesses and would possibly help him improve in a much better fashion than other potential suitors.
