Reading FC should revive Chelsea links to sign 2024 debutant | OneFootball

Ato Ampah impressed on his senior debut for the Blues, but a move to the Select Car Leasing Stadium could be valuable for him.

Reading have enjoyed a good relationship with Chelsea over the years, with that relationship continuing last summer.

The Royals signed Ben Elliott under huge transfer restrictions - and there's little doubt that the cooperation of the Blues allowed the League One side to get a deal over the line.

Elliott, who is currently injured, has been a big success for the Berkshire outfit, and has taken his game to a new level this season.

It's a shame that he's currently out injured, but that all but ensures he will stay put for the remainder of the season, which has to be a positive for Noel Hunt's side.

The Royals have signed other players from the Premier League giants in the past, with Cesare Casadei, Nathaniel Chalobah, Nathan Ake and Ryan Bertrand all coming in on loan, as well as Michael Hector, who was loaned back after signing for the Blues.

Shaun Cummings, who signed permanently and played a big part in the Royals' 2011/12 promotion-winning season, also came in from the London-based outfit.

The Royals are currently in talks to try and re-sign Wolverhampton Wanderers winger Chem Campbell.

Considering they have to be in talks with the EFL to bring Campbell back to the Select Car Leasing Stadium for the remainder of the campaign, and with their current financial situation in mind, it would be difficult to see them getting too many deals over the line during this window, if any.

They may have to agree some loan deals that involve parent clubs paying 100% of player wages - and the Blues are one team they should re-connect with because of this.

Enzo Maresca's side are probably more likely to pay 100% of a player's wages during a loan spell than a team lower down the Premier League or in the Championship.

Reading FC should pursue Ato Ampah move

Ato Ampah made his senior debut for Maresca's men last month, coming on at half-time for Pedro Neto away at Astana in the Conference League.

He may not have been able to score or assist against the Kazakh side, but he showed real promise, showcasing his pace and his ability on the ball.

His debut was never going to be easy, considering he's only 18 at this stage.

But the fact he has made his debut shows that Maresca rates him - and that isn't a shock considering he has already made the step-up to the U23s team.

At 18, Ampah still has plenty of time to develop and doesn't need to go out on loan straight away, but a senior loan switch could allow him to accelerate his development.

And the Berkshire side could benefit from having another winger at their disposal, regardless of whether Campbell re-joins or not.

Kelvin Ehibhatiomhan's injury reinforces the fact they don't have a lot of depth in this area, and with Harvey Knibbs needing to return to the middle after Elliott's injury, they now have even fewer options in this area.

It could be argued that Ampah's potential arrival could restrict Adrian Akande's game time, but the former could add something new in Berkshire, and wouldn't have a shortage of motivation to do well at the SCL Stadium.

Ampah's arrival could even allow players like Basil Tuma to spend more time in the U21s, where they can gain more confidence and develop before playing an important part in the first team.

Since the Royals' relegation, lots of players have been launched into the first team prematurely because of off-field circumstances, so bringing in a few players to allow the youngsters to develop in a more suitable environment could be beneficial for the long term.