Gareth Southgate: Callum Hudson-Odoi 'Maturing' at Chelsea Amid Bayern Rumours

England manager Gareth Southgate believes Chelsea youngster Callum Hudson-Odoi is "maturing well" at his club amid speculation linking him with a move to Bayern Munich.

According to David Hytner of the Guardian, the Blues rejected both a transfer request from the player and a £35 million bid from the German giants in January. Given Hudson-Odoi's contract is poised to expire at the end of the 2019-20 season, rumours about his future are unlikely to cease.

Speaking after Hudson-Odoi made his senior debut for the Three Lions on Friday, Southgate said he thinks the winger's development is on a positive trajectory with the Blues, per the Press Association (h/t Sky Sports):

"If you look at the number of appearances, he has actually been on the field quite a lot. And I know from when we were talking with the club earlier in the season how much faith Maurizio [Sarri] has in him.

"He's got some outstanding players just in front of him. He's slowly getting more and more game time, and they've still got the Europa League as well. So, I think he's maturing well. There doesn't need to be a rush for him. I think we've seen that with Marcus [Rashford] and his development."

Southgate also said he's hopeful the ban Chelsea will serve on incoming players this summer will give Hudson-Odoi more opportunities.

Here's what the winger had to say following his first appearance for the Three Lions:

While Bayern are the team most often mentioned when it comes to teenager, other sides are also reportedly in the frame. According to Rob Draper of the Mail on Sunday, Manchester United are ready to join the race for the player along with the Munich club, Borussia Dortmund and Liverpool.

Southgate evidently has faith in the Chelsea tyro, as he was called up to the senior setup for England's latest UEFA European Championship qualifiers. Hudson-Odoi's cameo in the 5-0 win over the Czech Republic was a landmark appearance too:

Despite his tender years, it's not a huge surprise to see the Chelsea winger playing at such a high level, as he's shone in 2018-19 when given opportunities for his club.

In the UEFA Europa League, he's been especially productive in the final third:

For as long as Hudson-Odoi doesn't sign a new contract with Chelsea, speculation will continue to gather pace regarding a possible transfer, especially when you consider the calibre of teams said to be interested in securing his signature.

He's not started a Premier League game for the Blues despite his Europa League performances and impressive displays off the bench. Given the quality and maturity he's shown, surely the time has come for Chelsea to put faith in the youngster and hope that he will reciprocate that trust.