Chelsea are yet to make any decision over Ethan Ampadu's future, despite reports linking the Wales star with a return to Italy this summer.
Reports on the continent have suggested that Serie side Spezia have opened talks over a move this week, claiming Chelsea are keen to sell Ampadu this summer.
However, sources in west London have told WalesOnline that Spezia's interest, while genuine, has been exaggerated, and that talk of an imminent return to Italy is, for now, wide of the mark.
READ MORE: Chelsea's plan for Ethan Ampadu revealed amid Thomas Tuchel's £50m transfer activity
Indeed, there are already doubts over whether the Italian side would be able to afford a permanent deal for the Welshman, who earned plenty of plaudits in Serie A on the back of a series of impressive showings for Venezia, where he spent last season on loan.
Venezia were relegated at the end of the season, of course, but the 21-year-old emerged with plenty of credit for his individual performances. Links with a return to Serie A are subsequently perhaps of little surprise.
Spezia are one of a number of clubs across the UK and Europe to have shown an interest in taking Ampadu over the last month, including several admirers in the Premier League, but it appears there's nothing formal on the table from anyone at this stage.
However, at the time of writing, there is nothing tangible on the table from anyone at this stage, with the player himself happy to try and prove himself at Stamford Bridge, although clearly his path to the first team under Thomas Tuchel remains uncertain.
Ampadu was part of the team's recent pre-season tour of the United States, and impressed a number of Blues fans with a typically composed performance against Club America.
It was a showing that will have come as little surprise to fans in Wales, who have grown accustomed to Ampadu's steady and imperial influence during his 36 outings for his country. But it really caused a number of Chelsea fans to take notice too.
And yet, as with the last couple of summer windows, there remain big question marks over what comes next. In fact, the questions are probably more pronounced with the small matter of a World Cup in Qatar just around the corner.
There is a popular school of thought that Ampadu may have to follow the examples of Gareth Bale, Joe Rodon and Aaron Ramsey if he's to get the regular game time he needs ahead of this winter's showpiece.
Chelsea's initial decision not to hand him a squad number has been underlined as further evidence that Ampadu's future lies away from Stamford Bridge.
However, it's understood there's little to be read into that decision at this stage, and is instead indicative of Chelsea's pondering over what might come next for the Welshman, who still has two years left to run on his current deal.
In any case, it's not a clear cut situation, as while he remains without a number on Chelsea's official site, the squad lists published by the Premier League suggest he'll take the number 44 jersey next term.
Nevertheless, with Rob Page likely to be keen on seeing one of key stars getting as many minutes under his belt as possible, speculation over a move away will likely continue unless Tuchel shows some sign of including the former Exeter City starlet in his plans.
There's every chance he could yet move on, with a decision on his future likely to be made long before September's deadline.
But for now, it seems there's little appetite to engineer an exit from Stamford Bridge.
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