Chelsea are reportedly intent on keeping hold of Callum Hudson-Odoi in the January transfer even though the Englishman could want to leave.
According to reputed journalist David Ornstein, in his column on The Athletic, Chelsea have no intention of letting Callum Hudson-Odoi depart Stamford Bridge in the January transfer window. The English international is eager to secure regular game time and has been the subject of interest from Bayern Munich.
Hudson-Odoi is one of the rare success stories of players graduating from the Chelsea academy to the first-team setup. In the last couple of years, though, Hudson-Odoi, along with Mason Mount, Reece James, Tammy Abraham and Fikayo Tomori have all been inculcated within the senior squad.
However, since the arrival of Frank Lampard, Hudson-Odoi has struggled for game time, with the signing of Hakim Ziyech further worsening his woes. So far this season, the 20-year-old has started just six of the 18 games that Chelsea have played in all competitions, with even Timo Werner being preferred over him out wide.
Things seem to have reached a head for Hudson-Odoi, with the report suggesting that the player is now considering leaving Chelsea in the January transfer window to secure regular game time. But, Frank Lampard is not prepared to let the Englishman depart this winter.
Recent widespread reports had claimed that Hudson-Odoi was set for talks with Lampard over his prospects and future. David Ornstein has now suggested that Chelsea will neither let Hudson-Odoi join another club in the January transfer window or let a club sign him on a permanent deal.
Ornstein has claimed that while Chelsea still see a bright future for the promising young winger, it will also be imprudent to let him leave and reduce Lampard’s wide options. And, at a time when Ziyech is set to be out for the foreseeable future due to a hamstring injury, Hudson-Odoi’s presence in the squad is all the more important.
Bayern Munich have been in pursuit of Hudson-Odoi for a long time and tried signing him on loan in the summer transfer window as well. Chelsea have already rebuffed the Bundesliga champions twice and are ready to do so once again, with even Lampard suggesting that he is ready to stave off interest from the Bavarians yet again.
So, it will be interesting to see if Hudson-Odoi can manage to find a way to turn his fortunes around at Stamford Bridge. As far as the possibility of a move away is concerned, he is set to stay put at Chelsea, with Bayern Munich having little chance of swooping him away.
