Leeds United are prepared to reject any offers for captain Ethan Ampadu this season as they seek to keep the Wales international at Elland Road amid reported interest from Chelsea.
According to Football Insider, Leeds consider the 26-year-old an important part of their plans and manager Daniel Farke has urged the club’s ownership to resist approaches for the midfielder.
Ampadu has emerged as a key figure for Leeds following their return to the Premier League, with the club also demonstrating their commitment by handing him a contract extension that runs until 2030.
The midfielder’s future has attracted attention because of reported interest from Chelsea, where he began his senior career before moving on to a series of loan spells and eventually joining Leeds.
Chelsea are expected to strengthen their midfield options in the future, with a defensive midfielder reportedly among the positions on Xabi Alonso’s recruitment list.
The London club have already invested heavily in their squad, including £117 million on Morgan Rogers during the summer, while the departures of Andrey Santos and Enzo Fernandez have added to their midfield considerations.
However, the scale of Chelsea’s spending could affect their January transfer budget, potentially making a move for Ampadu more difficult in the short term.
