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This article is part of Football FanCast's Transfer Focus series, which provides opinion and analysis on recent transfer news...

Ethan Ampadu has been linked with a move to RB Leipzig after the Chelsea defender stayed behind from the pre-season tour to Japan to secure a loan away from the club.

What’s the story?

The youngster has been one of Chelsea’s hottest properties for a couple of years and while the club are renowned for allowing players to leave on loan, this will be the 18-year-old’s first spell away from Stamford Bridge since arriving from Exeter City in 2017.

Frank Lampard’s very short managerial career has shown his willingness to put faith in youngsters such as Harry Wilson and Mason Mount, but it seems Ampadu will be one whose development is taken abroad for a year as the new boss persists with his current centre-back options.

According to The Sun, new Leipzig boss Julian Nagelsmann is keen to bring the defender (who can also play as a holding midfielder) to Germany and sees him as one of Britain’s best talents.

Not all British talent benefit from German move

The media have been full of praise for Jadon Sancho and Reiss Nelson, who went to Germany to develop their understanding of football and obtain first-team opportunities. It’s certainly worked out for some, and as far as finding managers who deliver these opportunities you’ll struggle to find many better than Nagelsmann.

The German manager developed Serge Gnabry before getting his opportunity at Bayern Munich, where he’s recently won their Player of the Year award. So, a year with the Leipzig boss has it’s proven benefits.

However, moving to the Bundesliga hasn't worked wonders for everyone. One player in particular has struggled to rediscover himself in English football since the move and that’s West Ham’s Reece Oxford.

Forget the transfer ban, Chelsea's most important deal has already been sealed this summer. See for yourself in the video below...

The defender had a debut to remember when he performed wonderfully at the Emirates to help his side claim a shock 2-0 win. However, the journey hasn’t taken off as people first hoped it would. Loan deals at Borussia Monchengladbach (twice) and Augsburg have seen him become an after-thought for Hammers managers. West Ham's youngster is now exploring a permanent deal away from the club.

If the deal were to happen, Ampadu can look at Nelson and Sancho’s journey’s in German football as reasons to be optimistic, though there’s also examples where leaving the club can be to your detriment. The defender will hope that by potentially gaining Champions League football and playing for a club that gets a lot of European coverage, he would be able to stay in the mind of Lampard and prove his prowess before his return to Stamford Bridge next summer.