Ethan Ampadu insists he still sees his future at Chelsea but wants to play regular football in the hope of playing at the World Cup with Wales.
The 21-year-old is currently with the Chelsea first-team out in the United States for their pre-season.
Ampadu spent the season on loan at Serie A outfit Venezia for the 2021/22 campaign and has now returned in the hope of making the team under Thomas Tuchel next term.
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Whether he will get the opportunity remains to be seen, but the Wales international did himself no harm during the 2-1 win against Club America at the weekend.
Ampadu thrived at the back for Chelsea after coming on at half-time, offering Tuchel a selection headache in defence following the arrival of Kalidou Koulibaly and more expected arrivals.
Trevoh Chalobah was in a similar situation to Ampadu last year and seized his chance, now it’s Ampadu and Levi Colwill’s chance this summer.
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Ampadu is hoping to replicate Chalobah’s rise, wanting to breakthrough to achieve the dream of playing at the highest level.
He told The Athletic: “There are a few of us with that same mindset that want to break through. We’re out here now and it’s our chance to show it.
“Like every footballer out there, my dream is to be at the top.
"I don’t think that’s a bad thing to say and dream; everyone wants to be at the top. It’s about fighting and getting towards that.”
Decisions over who stays and goes at Stamford Bridge are starting to be made and Ampadu got through the first hurdle of not being cut from the squad, which saw Tuchel trim his squad out in Orlando.
Ampadu wants to fight for his place at Chelsea but with the World Cup in Qatar in November, he wants to be in the best condition available for selection heading into Wales’ first World Cup appearance in 64 years.
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He added: “Of course — I’m here aren’t I?,” when asked whether he envisaged his future being at Chelsea.
“This club fights for everything: Champions League, Premier League. It’s all about fighting here and trying to get to the top.”
“The World Cup adds something else, but even if there wasn’t the World Cup, as a professional footballer you want to play.
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“I enjoy playing and I want to be playing week in, week out.
"But the World Cup is definitely something you want to be going to feeling fit and fresh.”
Matthew Debono