Sheffield United got their first win of the Premier League season last night, much to the relief of their supporters and manager Chris Wilder.
The Blades have endured a torrid opening half of the campaign and despite their narrow 1-0 over Newcastle United are still rooted to the bottom of the table.
Billy Sharp's second-half penalty was the difference over the 10-man Magpies, who have problems of their own after a miserable night at Bramall Lane.
One player who stood out though was Wales youngster Ethan Ampadu, on loan in Yorkshire from Chelsea.
Like the Blades team as a whole, Ampadu has struggled for form so far this term but last night turned in his best performance of the campaign to date.
Composed on the ball, confident in and out of possession, the 20-year-old has all the traits and the versatility that manager Frank Lampard is currently targeting in the transfer market.
The Blues are heavily linked with their former youth graduate Declan Rice of West Ham; the central midfielder was the subject of intense debate on talkSPORT yesterday afternoon, with Adrian Durham and Darren Gough asking whether England man Rice was a £100million player.
Over the weekend reports emerged that Rice had told friends that his preference this summer is to remain in London, therefore blunting any attempt Manchester United had of luring him to Old Trafford. That leaves the door wide open for Chelsea but does Lampard really need him when he has a ready-made solution to his £100million problem? Transfer chief Marina Granovskaia and the Blues manager now have to weigh up the pros and cons of a Rice move.
Supporters want to see the Exeter youth product given a chance.
"Ethan Ampadu motm performance against Newcastle tonight!" said one. "How good has #Ampadu looked today for Sheffield! Could be a huge run-in for him, should Wilder do the unthinkable. Definitely won't get these PL minutes if he wasn't sent out on loan. Doubly crucial for him after a wasted year in Germany," said another.
"Ethan Ampadu must come back to #CFC next season. There's no doubt he's more composed and athletic than both Rudiger and Christensen. That and he's able to play all 4 in the back and as a DM. We need his quality and versatility," added a third.
"More the reason I see him, not Rice, at Chelsea. Rice is a good player but Ampadu is just as good, and for me a higher potential. I don't understand some people want Mount Abraham Odoi to push into first team but buy Rice when we already have Ampadu. Too good to give up on," chimed a fourth. "Wanna see Ethan Ampadu at DM next season, we don’t need Rice," concluded a fifth.
Ampadu, like Rice, can play in two different positions - centre-back and central midfield - areas in which Lampard needs reinforcements. The £80million to £100million the Blues would save in retaining Ampadu and passing Rice over could be reinvested in other areas of the squad, which clearly still doesn't have the right balance to it.
