Young Chelsea forward Callum-Hudson Odoi is one of the players who ranks high on most publications’ “most likely to move in January” list and it’s easy to see why. He’s a very promising 19-year-old English international who is buried on the depth chart at his current club.
Hudson-Odoi, who was named to The Guardian’s “Next Generation” list in 2017, has reportedly been the subject of three bids from Bayern Munich- the most recent of which was supposedly £30 million. He could indeed be in line to become the most expensive teenager in England history.
Chelsea boss Maurizio Sarri has said earlier this season that Hudson-Odoi is not yet ready for the Premier League, but he still wants the promising young lad to snub the Bavarian giants and stay put.
Asked if a move to Bavaria would be Munich would be better for Hudson-Odoi’s development, Sarri responded with the following:
“I don’t think so, because he is an English player. He is very young, he has the future. He has a very great future here in England, with the national team and Chelsea. To stay here is better for him,” Sarri said.
Given Hudson-Odoi has just 18 months left on his current deal, and the club just acquired Christian Pulisic to beef up depth on the wings, it’s probably more likely than not CHO moves on. Although it is worth noting that both Willian (who has struggled massively this season) and Pedro (who has been slowed somewhat by injury) could also leave in the summer.
Not to mention the inevitable “will he or won’t he move to Real Madrid?” that’s coming with Eden Hazard. It’s a summer tradition unlike any other.
For the time being though, Sarri says CHO will get more opportunities.
“I know only that for me he is a very important player. He is very young but now he is improving especially in the defensive phase. He played really very well in the last match. I am really very happy with him,” the Italian said.
“I don’t know the situation with the club. He is ready. Of course we have very important players in the same position. You want Willian on the bench? Pedro? I can play with only two wingers. I think now I can start to consider him on the same level.”
Paul M. Banks runs The Sports Bank.net, which is partnered with News Now. Banks, a former writer for NBC Chicago.com and Chicago Tribune.com, regularly appears as a guest pundit on WGN CLTV and co-hosts the “Let’s Get Weird, Sports” podcast on SB Nation.
He also contributes sociopolitical essays to Chicago Now. Follow him on Twitter and Instagram. The content of his cat’s Instagram account is unquestionably superior to his.