New Chelsea manager Frank Lampard has revealed that the Blues are planning to send teenager Ethan Ampadu on loan for the 2019-20 campaign.
Ampadu has not travelled with the Chelsea squad on their pre-season tour of Japan amid speculation surrounding his short-term future in London.
Lampard has said that he is "a big fan" of the 18-year-old, having tried to sign him on loan for Derby County last summer, but the Premier League club want the youngster to gain some regular football elsewhere next term.
"Ethan is not here as we're looking at the possibility of him going on loan for the season," Lampard told reporters. "I tried to sign Ethan on loan at Derby last year, so I'm a big fan, but with the minutes he played last year, I have to think of the bigger picture and the interests of Ethan and of Chelsea.
"The idea that he could play a lot of games somewhere is good for him and we haven't brought him here while that is up in the air."
Ampadu, who has been linked with Aston Villa, joined Chelsea from Exeter City in 2017.
The eight-time Wales international has made 12 first-team appearances for his current club and only signed a new five-year contract at Stamford Bridge last September.
Matt Law
