ETHAN AMPADU is hoping to impress Frank Lampard enough to be involved in the Chelsea first team next season, according to reports.
The Blues boss likes what he has seen from the young Welshman.
And the 19-year-old wants to put another loan move on hold by forcing his way into the senior set-up.
Ampadu spent last season on loan with Bundesliga side RB Leipzig.
But it did not work out as planned for the versatile teenager, who can play in midfield or defence.
A “frustrated” Ampadu made just seven appearances across all competitions under Julian Nagelsmann.
That included two starts, one full 90-minute match – the 1-0 win at Tottenham in the Champions League – and 78 minutes of Bundesliga action spread across three games.
With the European Championships taking place next summer, 13-cap Ampadu knows he will need to be playing regular football to get into Ryan Giggs’ Wales squad.
Bristol City were linked in January but Fulham and Norwich have both expressed interest this summer.
But according to Goal, rather than seek another loan move, the former Exeter trainee is determined to see if he can impress in pre-season to convince Lampard to include him in his plans, as he did with Billy Gilmour.
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However, while Ampadu fights to stay at Stamford Bridge next term, Armando Broja looks set for his first loan.
The 18-year-old Albanian – who scored 19 goals in 31 appearances across the youth teams last season – made his senior Blues debut against Everton in March but is now on course to become the latest youngster to join Vitesse.
Mason Mount, Dominic Solanke and Nemanja Matic have all been sent to the Dutch outfit as Chelsea youngsters to gain experience.
