Could Ethan sign for City?
WARNOCK HINTS AT LOAN BID FOR WALES ACE AHEAD OF HUGE TEST AT CHELSEA BIG-MATCH PREVIEW:
NEIL Warnock hinted that Cardiff City could chase the loan signature of Chelsea and Wales starlet Ethan Ampadu in January, as he added to his comments over the failed bid for Tammy Abraham.
The Bluebirds boss criticised Chelsea’s loan policy, with Ampadu one of many young Blues players who have remained at the club beyond the transfer window and Abraham loaned to Championship outfit Aston Villa instead of a Premier League side.
Warnock had revealed earlier in the week he wanted to bring former Swansea City loan star Abraham to Cardiff, accusing Chelsea of lacking class over the deal.
And as he prepares his troops for the trip to Stamford Bridge, Warnock explained the situation in full.
“I talked to Eddie Newton, who is in charge of their loan deals. I was told I’d be kept in touch and unfortunately I wasn’t,” he said.
“I thought the least you should get at this level is a telephone call. But I wanted Tammy, I thought he could spearhead our challenge and fit the play we play, but it wasn’t to be and now Villa have got the rewards of him.
“The only thing I can think of (as to why the move didn’t happen) is that our deadline was two or three weeks earlier and (Chelsea) might have been thinking of using him in their own squad.
“But surely playing for him 20 to 30 times in the Premier League would have improved him – no disrespect to the Championship – I thought it would have been a no brainer?”
On Ampadu, whose performance for Wales against Republic of Ireland at Cardiff City Stadium attracted rave reviews, Warnock dropped another hint to Chelsea.
He confirmed he would be speaking to Chelsea representatives on Saturday over a potential loan move – for Ampadu or someone else – when the window re-opens. “I think they should loan him to us!” “They’ve got good players that could do with playing and if they could get a game in the Premier League, it would help their development. He should (go out on loan). Managers now have got such a short timescale in your job that you can’t really worry about kids. And when you can just pay £50 million for somebody and leave a kid out... you’re going to do that.
“The top clubs want the ready-made players because that’s what they can afford. So you need to get lads playing games at the highest possible level. I think he’s ready to play in the Premier League, as I thought Tammy was.
“We would have the lad and I will be speaking to someone at Chelsea about a one or two things.”
Warnock was a little more measured in his assessment of Ampadu’s performance than some.
But he still found time to compared the midfielder – who today (Friday) celebrates his 18th birthday – to Chelsea legend Ray Wilkins and current Wales ace Joe Allen, who was also of interest to the Bluebirds before he signed an improved Stoke City contract.
“He plays the game simple but will have to quicken up a little bit when he gets higher up, but he’ll get that by playing games,” Warnock added.
“But I thought he was outstanding in that first game and a little bit overpowered in the second one (the 2-0 defeat to Denmark ).
“He’s so confident. These young lads nowadays have got no fear.
“He’s not dissimilar to a Ray Wilkins type.
“He keeps everything moving, a bit like Joe Allen – we’d have loved to have him – so there’s a number of people he reminds me of.”