{"id":51939,"date":"2025-04-26T11:02:08","date_gmt":"2025-04-26T11:02:08","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/51939\/"},"modified":"2025-04-26T11:02:08","modified_gmt":"2025-04-26T11:02:08","slug":"the-7m-leeds-united-star-who-was-once-tipped-to-replace-cesc-fabregas-at-chelsea","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/51939\/","title":{"rendered":"The \u00a37m Leeds United star who was once tipped to replace Cesc Fabregas at Chelsea"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

This week, it emerged that Premier League icon Cesc Fabregas could be an option to replace Daniel Farke at Leeds United.<\/strong><\/p>\n

And while all the signs now suggest that Farke will stay on with the San Fransisco 49ers\u2019 backing<\/a> \u2013 the three-time promotion winner granted the chance to prove he has learned from those Norwich City failings \u2013 that the Leeds United<\/a> bosses spent the aftermath of Monday\u2019s 6-0 hammering of Stoke City considering their options suggests that there are some at Elland Road who harbour doubts about the man currently in the dugout.<\/p>\n

According to reports, Leeds may have opted to move Farke on<\/a> had they stumbled upon a young, forward-thinking manager with world-leading potential. See, for instance, a pre-Liverpool Arne Slot or a Rayo Vallecano-era Andoni Iraola.<\/p>\n

Leeds held talks with both Slot and Iraola<\/a> two years ago.<\/p>\n

Former Arsenal, Barcelona, Chelsea and Spain playmaker Cesc Fabregas boasts far less experience now, from a managerial sense, than either Slot or Iraola did back then. Though, according to TBR Football<\/a>, Fabregas still was identified as a potential Farke replacement internally.<\/p>\n

Interestingly, Fabrizio Romano explains that Fabregas is on RB Leipzig\u2019s radar<\/a>. Red Bull, of course, are minority shareholders at Elland Road these days. One presumes that the energy drink giants \u2013 while taking a keen interest in Fabregas\u2019 progress at Serie A newcomers Como \u2013 will play a major role in any future managerial decisions in West Yorkshire too.<\/p>\n

And ironically enough, while Fabregas had been floated as a potential Daniel Farke successor, it is only six years since a current member of the Leeds United<\/a> roster was being tipped to replace the 2010 World Cup winner himself.<\/p>\n

\"PhotoPhoto by Gabriele Maricchiolo\/NurPhoto via Getty ImagesEthan Ampadu spent time with Leeds United-linked Cesc Fabregas at Chelsea<\/p>\n

One of the most gifted and influential midfielders of his generation departed Chelsea in the middle of the 2019\/20 season, crossing the Channel and putting pen to paper with Monaco. <\/p>\n

MORE LEEDS UNITED STORIES<\/p>\n

And, when asked how the Premier League giants could cope without their arch string-puller, then-Blues boss Maurizio Sarri tipped one Ethan Ampadu<\/a> to step \u2013 eventually anyway \u2013 into Fabregas\u2019 gilded boots.<\/p>\n

\u201cOf course, playing as a central midfielder in our team is not easy. We need to try and try and try in training, but I think that [Ampadu] is able to do it,\u201d Sarri said, just over six years ago.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n

\u201cIn the future maybe [Ampadu can thrive as a deep-lying playmaker]. But we have to work. The player who plays in that position usually touches about 120, 130 balls [per game]. We need a specialist there.\u201d<\/p>\n

More than half a decade on, had Leeds opted to reward all of Farke\u2019s excellent work with a freshly-printed P45, a return to English football for Fabregas could have seen the 37-year-old reunite with a man currently wearing the armband at Elland Road.<\/p>\n

Still only 24, Ampadu finally cut ties with Chelsea when securing a \u00a37 million move to Yorkshire during Farke\u2019s first summer at the helm. <\/p>\n

Sarri clearly had faith in his teenage, poodle-haired Welshman. But with the Napoli icon becoming the latest blood-soaked victim of Roman Abramovic\u2019s hair-trigger only a few months later, the opportunity to slot into the spot vacated by Fabregas\u2019 exit would not be forthcoming. <\/p>\n<\/p>\n

Ampadu was instead farmed out on a series of loans \u2013 to Sheffield United, Venezia, Spezia and the aforementioned RB Leipzig \u2013 before finally finding a long-term home at Leeds.<\/p>\n

Ampadu \u2018the most important player\u2019 for Daniel Farke\u2019s Leeds<\/p>\n

It appears that Fabregas has kept half an eye on Ampadu\u2019s development since their brief time together at Chelsea. The Arsenal icon will be delighted to see his one-time protege return to the Premier League stage, especially with his new, more closely-cropped visage.<\/p>\n

\n

Great seeing @ethanamp4 starting and playing in such a big games. Good to see him a better haircut as well. \ud83d\ude05<\/p>\n

\u2014 Cesc F\u00e0bregas Soler (@cesc4official) February 19, 2020<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

View Tweet<\/p>\n

As for his development into an elite, Fabregas-style playmaker, Ampadu\u2019s time this season has been split between a midfield role and a central defensive one. The skipper returned to Farke\u2019s back four after Pascal Struijk suffered a season-ending foot injury<\/a> a few weeks ago.<\/p>\n

His impressive passing range from an almost quarterback role has, however, seen Ampadu become a crucial cog in Leeds\u2019 machine-like possession game. Not quite West Yorkshire\u2019s answer to Cesc Fabregas, but just as integral to Leeds\u2019 cause as the silky Spaniard was to Chelsea\u2019s all those years ago.<\/p>\n

\u201cHe\u2019s one of my most important players if not the most important player,\u201d Farke beams. \u201cHe\u2019s our captain. He always plays in the centre of the park. <\/p>\n

\u201cHe\u2019s important for the whole vibe, the whole spirit, the whole mood.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/p>\n