Loan Watch: Chelsea have asked Spezia to play Ethan Ampadu at centre-back
According to Football365 (h/t Yahoo Sports), Chelsea have asked Italian side Spezia to play Ethan Ampadu as a centre-back. The 21-year-old will spend the 2022/23 season on loan there.
Chelsea asked me to play Ethan Ampadu as centre-back. They asked for it as they see Ampadu returning there in one year and play as centre-back in the future.
Chelsea loaned out the centre-back with hopes that the defender will get more playing time and increase the experience under his belt. But, now it has been revealed that the Blues have asked the player be deployed in a specific position.
This has been done with the view of his future at Stamford Bridge. With the Blues asking that the player be used in a specific position, it is very likely they are preparing him for life in west London in the future.
Ampadu spent the last season on loan at another Italian side Venezia. There he played 30 games in all competitions for the Venice-based club, but mainly as a defensive midfielder and sometimes even as a central midfielder.
The player’s natural position is as a centre-back and Thomas Tuchel wants him to play there and get experience in that department. It makes sense why the Blues would ask for something like this. The midfield department can be said to be overfilled currently at the club.
The defence department also has quality players but Cesare Azpilicueta and Thiago Silva are not getting any younger. Especially the latter. He is 37 years old and could be said to be in the twilight of his grand career.
Chelsea will need to replace the Brazilian at some point soon and Ampadu could be that player. The Wales international is also likely to make the national team for the World Cup this November. Should he play at the tournament, the Blues would only benefit from his experience.
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It remains to be seen what position the player will be deployed in this season. Hopefully, it is in the centre-back. A huge amount of money can be saved if Ampadu becomes the natural replacement in defence and could then be used to strengthen another department.
