Ethan Ampadu expected to make Leeds United debut v Monaco
Ethan Ampadu is expected to make his Leeds United debut in Saturday’s friendly against AS Monaco, according to the Evening Standard.
Writing on their official website, the London-based newspaper wrote that the Wales international should pull on the shirt for the first time this weekend (22 July) after his £10m move from Chelsea was completed on Wednesday (19 July).
Ampadu signed in a deal worth £7m + £3m in add-ons to become the first signing of the Daniel Farke era at Elland Road, and is likely to go straight into the squad.
“Ampadu is expected to make his Leeds but in Saturday’s pre-season friendly with Monaco at the LNER Community Stadium,” they wrote (19 July).
Excellent
Part of the necessity of bringing players in early doors in pre-season is to get them accustomed to the way the manager wants the team to play and how the players fit into that.
Ampadu is clearly going to be a key part of the squad as the club made moves for him to be the first signing through the door, and his versatility means he can play in several positions through the spine of the team.
With the new season a little over three weeks away, Leeds need to get moving on signings but they now need to find a way to get Ampadu into the squad quickly and up to speed on everything that has been happening since Farke arrived.
The best place to do that is on the pitch, and even with 45 minutes or so against Monaco it will give everyone involved a better idea of what needs to be done between now and the Cardiff game.
In other Leeds news, one Leeds-linked player could get a pay off to leave his current side with talks on for a £5m move.