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Aston Villa manager Dean Smith is claimed to be mulling over another chase of Chelsea teenager Ethan Ampadu according to The Birmingham Mail, despite being rebuffed when he was Brentford boss in the summer.

What’s the word?

The Birmingham Mail suggests that Villa and Derby County are both questioning whether they should move for the Chelsea teenager, who is yet to feature competitively under Maurizio Sarri.

Both of the Midlands outfits have former Blues legends in their coaching ranks and current players on their rosters in John Terry, Frank Lampard, Tammy Abraham and Mason Mount, and both clubs are benefitting.

The addition of the highly-rated Ampadu could add a versatile player to whoever signs him given the Welshman can play in a deep-lying midfield role or at centre-back.

Despite Sarri suggesting further matches would come his way this season, that has not been the case thus far.

Sarri should step aside

In the Birmingham Mail’s report on Villa’s interest, it notes Sarri stepping in to block an exit while adding that the former Napoli manager had desires to personally oversee the Welsh teenager’s progress.

If he has no serious plans to play Ampadu in the Premier League, allowing Aston Villa to take him on loan is surely a better step for his development.

The League Cup is nearing an end with the quarter-final next month and that would have been the most likely competition for Sarri to play the Exeter product in, but even then he hasn't got the minutes under his belt.

Ampadu needs to be playing regular football for his development and the two sides eyeing a move in January could both benefit from another addition to aid their prospective promotion hopes.