EPL: How Manchester United failed to sign Chelsea midfielder

Manchester United could have signed Ethan Ampadu five years ago, even though he was still 12.

Former United boss, Alex Ferguson, saw the potential in him back then and was keen on bringing him to Old Trafford.

Ampadu started both of Wales’ recent games against the Republic of Ireland and Denmark, impressing in both fixtures.

Despite his successes on the international stage, Ampadu has yet to play a single minute for Chelsea’s senior team this season.

According to the Manchester Evening News, Ferguson described Ampadu as a ‘proper United player’.

However, in the process of Ferguson and David Gill handing the club over to David Moyes and Ed Woodward, Ampadu’s signature slipped through the net.

Speaking about Amapdu earlier this year, Exeter’s former academy coach Simon Hayward said: “In that visit to Manchester United there was a game going on with his age group, there were trialists from all over Europe.

“Ethan played as a central defender, a central midfielder and a centre forward at different times in the game and, in my opinion, he was the best player on the pitch no matter what position he played in.”