Callum Hudson-Odoi is ready to reject Chelsea's offer of £85,000 a week and hold out for a move to Bayern Munich because he believes he has more chance of developing in the Bundesliga.
Bayern Munich, who have already bid £35m for the player, would be expected to offer him Arjen Robben's No 10 shirt when the Dutch winger retires this summer, as a mark of how much they believe in the 18-year-old from south London
The German giants would expect Hudson-Odoi to go straight into their first team.
And though Chelsea made their offer last week in a bid to keep the jewel in the crown of the Chelsea academy, it is clear that manager Maurizio Sarri will only play Hudson-Odoi in fits and starts as he battles to hang on to fourth place and Champions League qualification.
Hudon-Odoi came on for ten minutes in the 2-0 defeat against Arsenal on Saturday night.
Chelsea's history of hiring and firing managers is now counting against them with young players.
Hudson-Odoi has been caught between the end of Antonio Conte's career, where there was understandably little interest in the future, and Sarri's first six months, where the priority has been to establish himself at the club with experienced players.
Though Chelsea have come up with a generous offer, Hudson-Odoi and his advisors told the board when he signed his three-year deal in the summer of 2017 that money wouldn't be the defining criteria of whether he committed long term.
He wanted to see how committed the club's managers were to integrating him, as Lucien Favre has with Jadon Sancho at Borussia Dortmund.
Those close to the player don't now believe the current circumstances at Chelsea make it suitable for his development, given the likely instability at the club over the next 12 months when he will need first-team games to develop.
The player's contract is only up until 2020 and so his value will drop dramatically on February 1st when he would only be worth around £10m, with just one year left on his contract.
If Chelsea won't let him move this January, he would be expected to hold out until the summer without signing a contract, when a move to Bayern would be more likely.
Nesaiknruy_Legend
108
This is the worst time to lose him. He made more difference in 19 minutes than Willian did in the overall game. Odoi is someone that can make a difference and belongs in the line up alongside Hazard. He's not someone that should be left out any longer after what I saw today. Willian and even Pedro are just not good enough to warrant starts over Odoi anymore, god forbid we lose him.
12UnitedGuyReborn
97
Wise choice from Hudson Odoi, someone must have really thoroughly talked to him because a place where managers are changed every two years is no place to hope for proper development wise choice Odoi
kamaarh
74
I think this would have been the game to convince him to stay , he should have started but as An Arsenal fan am glad he didn't because he good and could have cost troubles input back line . But I dont want to lose anymore talent to other leagues . It's a pity Sarri is so sturbon he has proven himself just give him a chance . Now am sure he won't sign any contract and will for Bayern
datsama
70
I understand the fact that chelsea want hudson to stay. but the truth is he wants a place where he can play week in week out but chelsea can't offer him that for now. so is better they sell him now and not wait till the summer when his price will lower down. I don't think there's any point keeping an unhappy player in the team. abramovich should learn to be patient with his managers maybe if conte had stayed he would have been in the first team playing..
Fizabeiorz
59
jeez i dnt understand what willian and jorginho do in the team. both of them have 0 % contribution in attack playmaking . 2ndly how on earth can a team play week and week out with out a proper centre forward n expect to score a goal atleast if not to win. even if chelsea sign me , i would definetly match morata n giroud's stats if not better them n i would do it without taking a single penny from them.
Tiocinoz
56
the kid has great talent but should man up and fight for a place..he is just fortunate robben is leaving had it been robben was still gud he would have been serving the bench. same case with Renato Sanchez young lad but can't fight his way to the first team too much competition. RLC was patient took his opportunities and now he can even start some matches. if he wish to leave then fine just wish him the best