Report: Callum Hudson Odoi Wants Chelsea Exit as Sarri Promises Playing Time
March 29, 2019
Chelsea winger Callum Hudson-Odoi reportedly wants to leave the club this summer despite the Blues' desire to keep him.
That's what sources told ESPN FC's Tom Hamilton, with Hudson-Odoi hoping to find regular game time elsewhere.
He has yet to start a Premier League match, but Chelsea boss Maurizio Sarri indicated the winger is ready to do so, per Goal's Nizaar Kinsella:
Nizaar Kinsella @NizaarKinsellaSarri on Hudson-Odoi making a league start: "He has started a lot of matches, probably not in the Premier League, but that's by chance. It is not a problem to put him in a Premier League match, he is ready. We can play with only 2 wingers, we have Hazard, Willian and Pedro" #CFC
Nizaar Kinsella @NizaarKinsellaSarri on Hudson-Odoi: "He is doing very well but he needs to improve more. The potential is really very high. I don't want him to stop improving because he can become one of the most important players in Europe. He needs to improve more. The risk is he stops improving" #CFC
Per Football.London's Oliver Harbord, Sarri added that "probably in the near future he will start in 75 or 80 per cent of matches." Sarri also noted Hudson-Odoi would start in two or three of the Blues' matches over the next month.
According to Bild (h/t Sky Sports), Chelsea will listen to offers above €50 million (£42.9 million) this summer, with Hudson-Odoi having just one year remaining on his contract at Stamford Bridge.
Bayern Munich remain keen on the 18-year-old after having four bids rejected for him in January, the largest of which totalled £35 million (€40.8 million).
Chelsea are hoping they can persuade him to sign a new deal, though, per Bleacher Report's Dean Jones:
Per Kinsella, Sarri expects him to remain over the summer whether he signs it or not:
His game time at Stamford Bridge has been an issue throughout the season, and his two appearances for England's senior side during the international break brought his struggles for game time at club level into further focus.
Kinsella offered some insight into the minutes he's received with the Blues this season compared with the Three Lions:
Nizaar Kinsella @NizaarKinsellaContext is the Europa League thing is subjective but he got his starts, either when the tie was seemingly won in the 1st leg, or #CFC had qualified from the group. Also, Sarri booed for not bringing him on vs Man United in the cup. Only played 214 mins before Bayern's first offer
The winger came on as a substitute in England's 5-0 win over the Czech Republic. He had a significant impact on the final goal, as it was hit shot that was parried into the path of Tomas Kalas for his own goal.
Hudson-Odoi played the full 90 minutes in their 5-1 win over Montenegro on Monday, which he capped with an assist:
He's an exciting young talent who needs time on the pitch to continue developing his game, so it's little wonder he would be open to moving on if that's not forthcoming at Chelsea.
As Jones noted, the only way for the Blues to keep hold of him is by offering significant minutes.