Bristol City have shown a late interest in bringing Chelsea defender Ethan Ampadu in on loan.
The Welsh centre-back, who can also play as a defensive midfielder, is currently on loan at German side RB Leipzig, but is having a less than enjoyable time in the Bundesliga.
Ampadu has made just two substitute appearances for Leipzig in the league this season, totalling just 48 minutes. He has played twice in the Champions league, registering one assist, but is thought to keen on a return to England after having his playing time limited.
After sending captain Bailey Wright out on loan to Sunderland, City are now looking to bring in a defender as another option to current centre backs Nathan Baker, Ashley Wiliams, Tomas Kalas and Taylor Moore.
Ampadu has played 12 times for Chelsea and has 13 caps for Wales.
The move could be complicated by the fact that Chelsea do not have a recall option in their loan contract with RB Leipzig, however with the player keen on a return the German club could make the decision to terminate the loan deal.
Lee Johnson has good relations with RB Leipzig having spent time out there last year on a fact-finding mission and is close with the Bundesliga club’s head of recruitment Paul Mitchell, formerly of Southampton.
The Robins are set to complete their first deal of the transfer window, with Burnley forward and former QPR loanee having a medical at Bristol City today after the clubs agreed a deal with a fee in the region of £4 million.
City have been desperate to sign a striker and now look to have found their man, but it has come at a price.
Captain Josh Brownhill will head in the opposite direction, with he too having a medical at Burnley before a deal is completed.
With Brownhill on his way out of Ashton Gate, Ampadu could provide another option in midfield, as the versatile 19-year-old has played both in defence and in midifeld during his time at Leipzig and for the Wales national side.
