Leeds United see off Fulham and Burnley for Ethan Ampadu transfer, finalise details of deal for Chelsea midfielder
Leeds United are on the brink of completing their first senior signing of the summer and triumphed over a crowded field in order to get there, according to 90min.
Chelsea’s Ethan Ampadu is set to become Daniel Farke’s first new arrival after a deal for £7million plus add-ons was reached for the 22-year-old on Monday (17 July).
The Welsh international kicks off the first-team transfer business and looks to be somewhat of a coup as a newly-relegated side, with three Premier League clubs unsuccessful in the running.
According to 90min: “Leeds are finalising the finer details of a deal for Chelsea’s Ethan Ampadu, seeing off interest from the likes of Sheffield United, Burnley, Fulham, West Brom and Coventry in the process.”
Back with a bang
It has taken a long time to get here as the takeover, the managerial appointment process and the host of first-team exits that had been backed up, all had to be dealt with first.
But the new Leeds United hierarchy will likely be feeling pretty pleased with their work as long as there as no late hitches and Ampadu is unveiled at Elland Road in the coming days.
While the 43-cap international is somewhat of an under-the-radar name he helps address a potential problem position in central midfield, and can cover in the centre of defence where the Whites have been pretty abject over the past year.
And if multiple top flight clubs were interested in him it shows that it is difficult but not impossible to tempt sought-after targets to Elland Road outside the promised land of the Premier League.
That is where Farke is tasked with leading this side back to, and if he and the recruitment department can tick off a few more requirements in similar fashion he should be in a pretty good place to do so.
Unless a complete disaster befalls the Whites next season Ampadu should also be in line to end his unwanted streak of three relegations in three seasons, after going with the Blades, then Venezia, and Spezia last term.
In other Leeds United news, the club are “seriously” in for another signing this summer but fans are mooted to be unhappy about it.