Sarri gives major hint that Ampadu is set for greater involvement at Chelsea

Maurizio Sarri has insisted that Chelsea need to sign a replacement for Cesc Fabregas.

But if they don’t, the Blues boss could turn to youngster Ethan Ampadu.

Head coach Sarri recently revealed that Chelsea would not sign a replacement for Gary Cahill if the defender leaves and would instead move youngster Ampadu up the pecking order.

As well as centre-back, Ampadu can also play in midfield – and has impressed there when given a chance in the Blues first team.

And he could end up featuring there more often if Chelsea do not make a midfield signing following Fabregas’ recent move to Monaco.

“In the future, maybe. Playing as a central midfielder in our team is not easy,” Sarri said when asked at a press conference if he saw Ampadu as a midfield option.

“We need to try and try and try in training. But I think he is able to do it.”

Sarri admitted that Jorginho’s poor display against Newcastle on Saturday underlined the need to replace Fabregas as a back-up midfield option.

“After 20 minutes he (Jorginho) lost a lot of balls. It’s unusual and I think he was in trouble,” Sarri said.

“Maybe he was tired, I don’t know. But if Fabregas was on the bench I think that in the second half he would have been on the pitch instead of Jorginho.”