Ethan Ampadu: Assessing loan spell at RB Leipzig and what to do next

Ethan Ampadu’s loan spell with Red Bull Leipzig has all but ended with the Bundesliga season coming to a close, but would a move to a club in the United Kingdom benefit the Chelsea man this coming summer?

The 19-year-old struggled to establish himself in Germany, failing to nail down a start in the Bundesliga throughout his time at the club and the Welshman played a total of just 79 minutes in the German top-flight.

However, Ampadu did feature three times in the UEFA Champions League, a competition Leipzig are still involved in, after defeating Premier League side Tottenham Hotspur 4-0 on aggregate.

The Welshman played his only full 90 minutes for the German outfit in the first leg, at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium; putting in an excellent shift for Die Roten Bullen, where he showcased his potential in a brilliant display against Jose Mourinho’s side on the road.

Ampadu showed his superb composure he possesses. During the game against Tottenham, he completed 93 accurate passes and had an impressive 95% passing accuracy. The Chelsea loanee also had five interceptions on what was a sensational showing on the night from the defender.

They have still yet to complete their quarter-final fixture due to the coronavirus pandemic. However, it has now been confirmed by UEFA that the competition will resume on the 7th August, in Lisbon.

Ampadu also has a magnificent record when featuring for Leipzig. During the seven games he has played, Julian Nagelsmann’s side have never lost – winning five and drawing twice.

However, the Welshman failed to make an appearance when Bundesliga action returned amid the coronavirus outbreak, so it begs the question whether a move to a club in the United Kingdom could benefit the young defender ahead of the European Championships next year.

Will a loan move to a club in the United Kingdom benefit Ampadu, then?

Quite possibly, yes. Ampadu has all the credentials to turn out to be a fantastic defender for Chelsea and Wales in the future, but he needs experience, and ultimately, he will be craving playing time ahead of the European Championships, which have now been pushed back a year.

He has already showcased for Wales under Ryan Giggs what a tremendous defender he can be – and his versatility in the fact that that he can also play as a defensive midfielder will only further attract teams who are based in the United Kingdom to snap up Ampadu.

Having regular playing time will allow the Welshman to flourish, too and a move to a newly-promoted team might help to gain him the first-team football he deserves.

It was reported back in January that Bristol City were keen to sign the defender. Cardiff City have also shown an interest in signing Ampadu in the past.

It will be hard for Ampadu to nail down a regular starting position at Chelsea, with the likes of Antonio Rudiger, Andreas Christensen and Kurt Zouma all battling for spots at the back.

Of course, there is no doubting Ampadu’s talent and he will hope to nail down a regular starting position at Stamford Bridge in the future, but a move to a promotion contender in the Sky Bet Championship or a different Premier League side could benefit the youngster in the short-term.

This could definitely help to aid and develop his international career with Wales, too; as he has the potential to be a starter for Ryan Giggs’ side for the foreseeable future.

(Featured Image: Lewis Mitchell0