These stories are samples pulled from external media sources. They do not represent the views or position of Chelsea Football Club.

Villa and Reading eye Ampadu loan

Frank Lampard’s admission on Tuesday that Ethan Ampadu had not travelled to Japan for our pre-season tour because of the possibility he could be going on loan for the season has led to speculation over where the young Welshman will end up.

According to TalkSport, the leading contenders to sign the 18-year-old are Aston Villa, fresh off securing promotion back to the Premier League via the play-offs

‘Newly-promoted Villa are in the market for a defensive midfielder following the release of Glenn Whelan and Mile Jedinak,’ states their report.

‘Manager Dean Smith is plotting a total overhaul of his squad this summer and the club have already made seven signings ahead of their return to the top flight.

‘Villa have a useful link to Chelsea, with John Terry as assistant boss, and the former Blues captain could help to secure a deal for Ampadu.’

Championship side Reading is another possible destination for Ampadu, according to the Reading Chronicle.

‘Reading are apparently interested in taking young Chelsea star Ethan Ampadu on loan, the Chronicle understands,’ states the local paper.

‘[Local journalist] Courtney Friday has said the Royals are keen on striking up a move for the 18-year-old, who is rated as one of the best young midfielders in the country.’

September return suggested for Rudiger

The Daily Mail reports centre-back Antonio Rudiger could return to action in September after recovering from surgery on a knee injury which he suffered last season.

The Germany international has not travelled to Japan with the rest of the squad and is expected to miss the start of the new season as he continues his rehabilitation at Cobham.

However, the report suggests he could be back early in the new campaign.

‘If everything goes according to plan, the central defender is expected to be back after the first international break of the season in September,’ states the paper.

‘Blues medical staff are hopeful Rudiger will be ready to return for the trip to Molineux on September 14.

‘Failing that, Rudiger should be available for the visit of European champions Liverpool the following weekend.’

Stamford Bridge hosts transfer summit

Stamford Bridge was a busy place on Tuesday as representatives from clubs from all over the world took part in a summit to discuss transfers, the Sun reports.

Chelsea’s home stadium was the venue for the Deal Date Summit, an event which the paper described as ‘the equivalent of football speed-dating’ as clubs tried to look at possible deals ahead of the new season.

‘Representatives of around 100 worldwide clubs, from Manchester City to Nashville SC in the United States, gathered for a succession of 15-minute chats to talk transfers,’ explained the Sun in its report.

‘The quickfire day was organised by TransferRoom, an online marketplace that allows sides to contact each other directly about players they would like to bring in or ship out.

‘While no deals would be done inside the rapid time, the concept was similar to actual speed-dating: meet a load of faces, get a load of numbers, and if something clicked, take it further later down the line.’

The format has proven popular with clubs with City, Everton, Wolves, Crystal Palace, West Ham United, Roma and Porto among those represented at the event.