Tisdale believes Exeter is best place for Ampadu development

(Picture: Action Images)

Exeter City manager Paul Tisdale believes Exeter City is the best place for Ethan Ampadu, despite interest from clubs higher up the footballing pyramid.

Numerous Premier League clubs, including Manchester City, have been linked with the highly-rated 16-year-old since he made his debut fro the Grecians in the EFL Cup against Brentford in July.

Since then, Ampadu has continued to impress, making his league debut in a 1-0 defeat against Crawley, and last week was named the Welsh Young Player of the Year.

However, despite his eye-catching rise to prominence, Tisdale has said: “I’d like to think there’s a substantial period of time where playing in our first team is going to aid him with his progress.

“He’s a fabulous young talent – he’s committed himself to us over the past couple of years when he could have left us earlier to go to another club.”

In recent years, Exeter have produced a wealth of talent that have gone on to play higher up the Football League, and even the Premier League, with current Middlesborough captain George Friend, ex-Derby man Dean Moxey and most recently, Matt Grimes, all learning their trade at St James’s Park.

Grimes, 21, currently on-loan at Leeds, joined Swansea in 2015 for £1.75 million, after making over 50 appearances for Tisdale’s side, and the long serving manager said: “Matt Grimes’ scenario is as good as you’ll get in terms of playing 40 or 50 games for your hometown club, and then getting a very good move.

“If you can guarantee playing for Exeter City under a stable environment, encouraged to make mistakes but do your best, and progress and improve your game very quickly, there’s no better place.”