Monday 7 January 2019 11:51, UK
Frank Lampard has admitted defeat in his pursuit of Ethan Ampadu, revealing Chelsea have turned down Derby's offer to sign the 18-year-old on loan.
Lampard, who is Chelsea's all-time record goal scorer, already used his close ties with the Blues to sign Mason Mount on loan last summer, but has been knocked back after enquiring about Ampadu.
The Derby manager said: "We have asked, but I don't think he's leaving Chelsea.
"He can play in a few positions, that's why he would be so valuable to anybody and why he's staying at Chelsea.
"People thought we did a lot of business in the summer, but our actual net spend was very negligible.
"I had to bring in personnel to try to change the style and that's not a one-window solution, that's probably two or three-windows. This window will be quiet for us."
Ampadu is capable of playing as a centre back or central midfielder, and has been capped six times by Wales.
However, Ampadu - who joined Chelsea from Exeter in 2017 - has played just three times for the Blues this season.
