Chelsea transfer news: Blues head Manchester United and Arsenal in race to sign Exeter starlet Ethan Ampadu
CHELSEA believe they are beating off Manchester United and Arsenal in the race to sign Exeter starlet Ethan Ampadu.
The Premier League leaders have been keeping tabs on the 16-year-old schoolboy who has already made an impact on the first team at the League Two club.
Ethan Ampadu is being chased by Chelsea, Manchester United and Arsenal IMAGE: Getty Images
Ampadu has made nine appearances for Exeter this season despite still studying for his GCSEs – including a Checkatrade Trophy game against the Blues.
And they were so impressed by what they saw in that game the club began trying to arrange a deal to take him to Stamford Bridge.
Ethan Ampadu could be on the way to Chelsea at the age of 16 IMAGE: Action Images
Talks have advanced to such a stage that Exter are now close to agreeing a compensation package worth £2.5million to sanction the move.
That will come as a major blow to both United and Arsenal who had also been trying to attract the Wales under-19 international to their academy systems.
United have been watching the midfielder ever since he won the man-of-the-match award on his first team debut.
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And the Gunners have been aware of him for the past year, with his father Kwame an academy coach with the London club.
But it is Chelsea who have now emerged as the clear favourites to take him to London when the transfer window opens in January.
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