Venezia ‘negotiations underway’ for Chelsea youngster Ethan Ampadu — report

Newly promoted Italian Serie A side Venezia FC are attempting to bolster their ranks for the new season with young Chelsea defender (and midfielder) Ethan Ampadu.

According to Gianluca Di Marzio, “negotiations are underway” for what would presumably be a season-long loan, and hopefully without any further options or commitments. (That said, Venezia do have priors in signing Chelsea youngsters, acquiring Harvey St Clair this time three years ago — though he’s currently out on loan himself to third division Seregno.)

There hasn’t been much transfer chatter about Ampadu this summer, who has two years left on his contract and is two weeks shy of his 21st birthday, and it looked like he might staying with the first-team despite not much involvement in preseason either.

But the renewed push to bring in Saúl should make either Ampadu or Loftus-Cheek available to the market once again, and with the latter supposedly fighting to stay, it would make more sense for Ampadu to head out — though they are both in need of regular playing time.