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Tariq Lamptey receives approach to switch allegiance from England to Ghana
Tariq Lamptey has received an approach from Ghana to represent them at international level, England Under-21 boss Lee Carsley has confirmed.
The Brighton defender is considered as one of the best young full-backs in the country after coming through the Chelsea academy, but there is severe competition for the position with the England senior team.
Lamptey was due to be included in the England youth squad for the upcoming internationals but after being left out of the squad entirely, Carsley confirmed that he has received an approach from another nation and has asked to be left out to be able to think about it.
“There’s an issue over his dual nationality,” he said, as quoted by The Sun. “He’s had an approach. It’s something he’s considering at the minute.
“He’s asked to be left out of the squad for a bit of head space. He’s not switched, it’s not cemented or anything like that.
“But he’s had an approach (from Ghana), we have to respect that. We’ve made it clear how important we see him to us. I know the seniors have as well.
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“It’s not something that we’ve given up on. Tariq is fully aware of how important we see him.”
Huge
This is a major decision for Lamptey to make at such a young stage in his career, because he genuinely has the talent to be a big figure for England’s senior team too.
Currently he has a host of names ahead of him including Trent Alexander-Arnold, Reece James, Kyle Walker, Kieran Trippier and James Justin if the most recent squad is anything to go by.
However both Walker and Trippier are in their 30’s, while Alexander-Arnold and James are both also capable of playing in midfield so there is definitely a pathway to play for England.
With a World Cup coming up later this year and Ghana part of it after qualifying through a playoff, it’s a huge chance for Lamptey to make an immediate impact on a global stage.
England will be annoyed to lose out on such a top talent, but ultimately it will probably benefit the career of the player more to represent Ghana.
In other England news, England under-21 keeper Etienne Green tipped for Premier League future