Callum Hudson-Odoi in action for Chelsea. (imago Images)
According to ESPN, Bayern Munich have again been linked with a move for Chelsea winger Callum Hudson-Odoi. The German club have been long term admirers of the youngster and their interest in him goes back as far as January 2019. Despite his new contract, they came in with an improved offer in the last transfer window. Chelsea maintained their stance and rebuffed all efforts to keep their starlet.
A Londoner through and through, Hudson-Odoi joined Chelsea’s youth academy in 2007. He made good progress as he climbed up the youth sides and was promoted to the senior team in 2017.
The 19-year-old winger made his debut for the senior side in January 2018 against Newcastle in an FA Cup tie. He scored his first goal for the team in a Europa League fixture against PAOK in November 2018.
He is yet to feature for Chelsea on a regular basis but one can point out to the fact that Chelsea had Eden Hazard and Willian on the wings at that time. So far, he has made 72 appearances for the team, scoring 10 goals and assisting 11.
A regular for the England youth sides, Hudson-Odoi was a part of the U-17 side that won the FIFA U-17 World Cup in 2017. He has also featured thrice for the senior side.
Chelsea are back to familiar territory as they were in the midst of a spending spree this summer. Due to the transfer ban last year, they fielded a lot of academy players that included Hudson-Odoi. Now with a whole new attack in the form of Kai Havertz, Timo Werner, Christian Pulisic and Hakim Ziyech, it is highly unlikely that Hudson-Odoi would be anything more than a squad player.
That has exactly been the case. The winger has been afforded just 168 minutes in the Premier League and 161 minutes in the Champions League. Only Mason Mount and Tammy Abraham have been regulars for the side this season.
Bayern Munich are fresh off a treble-winning season. The club do have ample wingers in the form of Serge Gnabry, Kingsley Coman and new signing Leroy Sane. Hence, it does not make a lot of sense for them to go for another one. But one has to consider the fact that they have lost Ivan Perisic and Coutinho, who have returned to Inter Milan and Barcelona respectively after their loan spells.
This is an extremely delicate situation as the player is in his formative years and needs regular game time, something which Chelsea can’t provide. At Bayern, he is likely to get more opportunities and would also get a chance to keep growing.
The Bavarians have been known to encourage youth and Hudson-Odoi could benefit from a move. Chelsea should not stand in the player’s way and hamper his development.
