Callum Hudson-Odoi is one of the best young talents in England. (Getty Images)
After weeks of speculation and public interest from Bayern Munich, Premier League leaders Liverpool are surprise contenders to sign 18-year-old Chelsea winger Callum Hudson-Odoi. With the likes of Jadon Sancho and Reiss Nelson doing well in Germany and the former earning his England call-up, Hudson-Odoi might be tempted with the opportunity to move overseas, but a move to the Merseyside makes more sense.
The Reds have been brilliant this season with their explosive front-line and a sturdy defence. They are currently four points clear at the top, with a game in hand.
Jurgen Klopp’s men might be looking to bolster their attack as the club seek to win their first league title since 1990. Just like Mohamed Salah and Sadio Mane, Hudson-Odoi could flourish under the guidance of the German.
However, the main issue is the game time. Although there are suggestions that the Chelsea man won’t get much game time due to the availability of Xherdan Shaqiri, the 18-year-old can still be accommodated by Klopp. Hudson-Odoi can be played on either wing as an alternative to either Salah or Mane.
He joined Chelsea in 2007 at a tender age of six. He made his under-18 debut in 2016 and helped the club win the FA youth cup. He found the net 9 times in the same season. The winger was immediately promoted to the U23 squad and scored four times for the blues at just 16 years of age.
He then appeared seven times in the under-17 World Cup, including the full 90 minutes in England’s triumph against Spain. The 18-year-old has represented The Three Lions in all age groups between 16 & 19, with the senior team being the next big step.
According to the Bild, representatives from Liverpool met with the youngster and his brother Bradley who also happens to be his agent. With his contract up in the summer, the England under-19 international looks set to reject the bumper offer of £85,000-a-week put on the table by Chelsea and move away from the London club.
Given Jurgen Klopp’s love for pacy, direct attackers and his style of play suiting the youngster, Liverpool should look to hijack Bayern’s deal, who have tabled a fourth bid of €35million, which is close to Chelsea’s valuation of the player. (Telegraph)
Under 450 minutes of game time in all competitions this season and little guarantee of more from Chelsea, Hudson-Odoi has issued a transfer request. With just a day left for the transfer window to shut, a move now looks unlikely but Liverpool should go back for Odoi in the summer.
