With all of the new signings Chelsea have made this summer, it seems they have to let some people go as well. However, the wing is one position they are not overloaded in, given Pedro and Willian’s departures. Callum Hudson-Odoi was, and still is, a candidate to leave, but the Blues have now reportedly rejected a loan with £70 million buy option from Champions League winners Bayern Munich, according to Jacob Steinberg of The Guardian.
REPORT: Chelsea Reject Bayern Bid For Hudson-Odoi
Victim of Chelsea Rebuild?
With the new-look front four of Kai Havertz, Christian Pulisic, Hakim Ziyech, and Timo Werner beginning to take shape at Chelsea, it’s possible that some players may be left behind. An example is Ross Barkley, who has gone out on loan to Aston Villa.
Olivier Giroud has also not started in the Premier League, while Ruben Loftus-Cheek started in the first match but has not seen the pitch since. Then, of course, is Hudson-Odoi. The 19-year-old who started his first game of the season against Crystal Palace on Saturday. However, he also came on at half-time last week against West Brom, playing a crucial part in the Chelsea comeback.
While manager Frank Lampard has publicly stated that he wants to keep him, Hudson-Odoi may be dissatisfied with his lack of playing time. He’s certainly considering an exit, that part is clear. With Pulisic and Ziyech returning from injury, his minutes will further decrease. Will he fight for his place, or will he jump ship to Germany?
Game Time Not Guaranteed at Bayern
The truth is, he’d probably get even less game time at Bayern than he does for Chelsea at the moment. With Leroy Sane and Serge Gnabry on the wings, plus Kingsley Coman, Hudson-Odoi would effectively be the fourth-choice winger.
At Chelsea, he is certainly behind Pulisic and Ziyech, but he’s third-choice and the first off the bench. This means that if he wants to play more, going to Bayern isn’t the right choice. While it is true that Bayern develop young stars very well, so do Chelsea. Lampard has overseen the rise to the first team of a number of youngsters, including Mason Mount and Tammy Abraham.
Hudson-Odoi certainly has a lot to learn from arguably the best midfielder in Premier League history, and he needs to fight for his place. Lampard sees something in him, and the Blues have rejected Bayern’s offer.
However, it’s quite possible that Bayern will come back with another offer, perhaps a standard transfer, not a loan. In that case, Chelsea may be tempted to accept. Hudson-Odoi needs to make a big decision over the next few days, perhaps the biggest one of his career.
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