Daily Mirror (Northern Ireland)
TASTY CAN OPENER AT DORTMUND
PAUL TISDALE remembers vividly the first time he saw Ethan Ampadu play.
Even though Ampadu was just 14, the Exeter boss felt the youngster was such a “thoroughbred”, the first call he made was to the FA.
Ampadu’s maturity, ease in possession and intelligent distribution made him stand out – even more than his trademark dreadlocks.
While the FA dithered, Ampadu was soon playing in League Two for the Grecians – sparking a move to Chelsea.
Ampadu, who turned 17 in September, was even on the bench ahead of £34million David Luiz for the win over Manchester United.
The versatile youngster then made his international debut on Friday as sub in midfield in Wales’
2-0 defeat by
France in Paris.
He impressed and is in line to start tomorrow in Cardiff in Wales’ friendly against Panama, who have qualified for Russia 2018.
It has been a meteoric rise since becoming Exeter’s youngest-ever player at just 15 last season.
He would have played more were he not still at school taking GCSES, but his 13 appearances for Exeter were enough to persuade Chelsea to sign him in July.
Tisdale (top) said: “He was the best player I have ever seen at a young age.
“I came away from the first time I watched him in a match and made a call to the English FA just to say he has English qualifications.
“He made a youth team appearance for the Under18s as a 14-year-old, which is when I first watched him BORUSSIA DORTMUND have stirred up the battle to sign Liverpool central midfielder Emre Can.
Germany star Can (below) is out of contract in June and has stalled on talks about signing a new deal at Anfield.
Juventus are keen but now face serious competition from Dortmund, who fancy the 23-year-old next summer without a transfer fee.
Can, formerly at Bayern Munich and Bayer Leverkusen, may find a return to Germany attractive and knows he can get a hefty pay deal as a free agent – although Jurgen Klopp has not given up hope of keeping him on Merseyside.