Callum Hudson-Odoi’s prospects of signing a new deal at Chelsea have receded even further after Gianfranco Zola’s comments that the winger is on the ‘edge of the team’ and ‘there aren’t many 18-year-olds in Europe playing as many games as him.’
Hudson-Odoi, the subject of a £35million bid from Bayern Munich last month, was already dispirited by Maurizio Sarri’s reluctance to use him, but Zola’s response to the six minutes he was given at Malmo in the Europa League on Thursday will have only strengthened his conviction that the coach doesn’t truly believe in him.
Hudson-Odoi is not expected to start against Manchester United on Monday, despite starting in the two previous FA Cup rounds against Nottingham Forest and Sheffield Wednesday.
Bayern will bid again for him in April, though the player would wait until January 1 next year to join them if a fee is not agreed this summer.
If he moves in 2020, the year his contract runs out, Chelsea will get minimal compensation, compared to the £35m Bayern were willing to pay last month.
Hudson-Odoi did briefly seem to be making an impression on Sarri when he started the Carabao Cup semi-final first leg against Tottenham, but that came after Bayern’s £35m bid. He is still yet to start a Premier League match for Chelsea.
Zola’s intervention jarred, given that 18-year-olds Vinicius Junior at Real Madrid and Jadon Sancho at Borussia Dortmund are both getting regular starts for Champions League clubs fighting for their respective league titles.
Hudson-Odoi’s advisors fear it is unlikely he will get enough playing time in the next 18 months to develop in the way Sancho and Vinicius can.
Despite Chelsea’s £80,000-a-week offer, they have always made it clear that the decision will not be motivated by money but by the amount of playing time he will get at Bayern.
The Germans would give Hudson-Odoi the No 10 shirt and make him fundamental to the club’s rebuild, with Arjen Robben and Franck Ribery leaving at the end of the season.
Chelsea signed Christian Pulisic for £58m for next season and even with Eden Hazard expected to join Real Madrid, there is no indication Willian or Pedro will leave, meaning Hudson-Odoi would remain fourth-choice winger.
tozabez
0
I was thinking Zola could be the answer Chelsea needed if Sarri goes, no as this comment have shown he is even the Bigger Problem. Youth Coach should take over and overhaul the team with youngsters.
real now start with reguilon and vinicius so why not Chelsea started with him too
tozabez
1
let Pedro and willian leave at the end of the season so that he can have enough playing time and believe in me, in term of talent vini boy and sancho re not better than odoi blie so the only thing he needs is playing time
kipdeimpr
0
Chelsea is a team which doesn't believes in they own young talented players their can does young players to others clubs than play their own
watacdmp
2
He can leave we still move on..#ktbffh
الامهات كبرياء
0
I mean they won't sell and won't play him. What's he supposed to do?
Sleep at home
foyilmotyz
1
Give him a chance when he has played he has played well plus he's young and not many older more experienced players are as good as him,and he has great potential keep him at the club.
hinadeuy
0
sell him already since he believes his better than Coman Muller James Gnabry or Davies
Jateknops
1
I was thinking Zola could be the answer Chelsea needed if Sarri goes, no as this comment have shown he is even the Bigger Problem. Youth Coach should take over and overhaul the team with youngsters.
Why do you people talk as if you have no brains at all? Which big club have you seen where up to 5 youth players would start a match? Even Real Madrid where some youngsters are having playing time, Like Vinicius, Vazquez, Ceballos & the rest. Look at Madrid currently you know there's not much of an option, that's the reason this boys are having playing time there, you can't compare the Madrid of 3-5 years ago. most big clubs are going through a rebuilding process currently, Clubs like Barca, Chelsea, Real Madrid, Bayern, Man Utd & the rest of them. Hudson Odoi should be patient, come next season he'll definitely get enough playing time, Cos Willian & Pedro are past their best already. the same with Bayern who are interested in him as well. Every club are rebuilding, same with Chelsea.
Jiwbdekmsy
1
It's a disgrace the way we treat our best prospects, all the older players are way past their best but they use player power to influence their selection into the team. Get rid of them and that useless manager we have.
Abbawaziri
0
I was thinking Zola could be the answer Chelsea needed if Sarri goes, no as this comment have shown he is even the Bigger Problem. Youth Coach should take over and overhaul the team with youngsters.
I agree with you💯
Zukcikop
0
Zola u r a legend but u chat too much, look at Vinicious, Odoi n Sancho a year ago Odoi was way ahead of them. look at all three now. u n ur sorry ass coach continue to none productive willian n pedro over the youth, both of u should go.
the 4 of them needs to leave asap!
Zukcikop
1
I just don't understand what's going on here,,, is either we have stupid people at the aims of affairs or they are just pretending to be stupid and if they are pretending to be stupid then they are doing a fantastic job... because I see no reason why you keep him if your not going to use him!!! I think Sarri and is crew have being given too much power by Granoskia
I think the full Chelsea board needs "overhaul"
Zukcikop
0
i thought Zola is better than sarri after this comment I relieced that Zola and sarri out.
you must really be a hypocrite fan
Zukcikop
1
if Chelsea lose Hudson oddoi. I fear for the future because Hazard will leave. Send Pedro packing so that this boy can have more playing time.
I'll rather him send Willian packing
Chelseaforever⚽️
4
Hudson should stay with the blues
Tipclmopy
4
I was thinking Zola could be the answer Chelsea needed if Sarri goes, no as this comment have shown he is even the Bigger Problem. Youth Coach should take over and overhaul the team with youngsters.
Potacntuz
1
Chelsea dies not have believe for him
Weoabmnsu
0
Why can't he?
because he has a big black juicy cock,!!!!
faith1984
3
if Chelsea lose Hudson oddoi. I fear for the future because Hazard will leave. Send Pedro packing so that this boy can have more playing time.
kelasidarat
0
Chelsea not believe with young talent he have.look at owen,rashford ,they all start at 18 with 1st team and slowly to be regularly player.it's about a trust by manager give him a chance.no chance it's mean nothing to show by player stick with same level.the best way is moved out and find the team really need your service.
Pimp1926
2
Chelsea fears another KDB and Salah but can't find space for the youth. I hope they sort this out soonest as he has the talent and is really fearless
Pimp1926
0
Sancho but that Vinicius can't be 18. We all know South Americans forge birth certificate
Why can't he?
Elismer
4
imagine rejecting 30 mill plus bids for the kid and also deciding not to play him ... Hudson odoi needs to run as fast as he can.. he doesn't want to be loftus cheek who at 23 is hardly in the starting 11
Angelnaby
0
Sancho but that Vinicius can't be 18. We all know South Americans forge birth certificate
Isblessed
1
They persuade/force him to stay and then treat him like this. Is it any wonder why most of their young talent feel that they have to leave?
poser
0
No deal exit, did they just re-cycled the Brexit thing over here? :DDDD
goodnessj
0
I mean they won't sell and won't play him. What's he supposed to do?
iodines
1
Leave. He wants first team football. Chelsea have always bought and loaned youngsters only to sell them on for a profit. Academy graduate or not he won't get the chances at Chelsea. Even if sancho stayed with city do you really think he's be in the first team.
ingenious
1
No Zola speaks the truth and if this kid can't take it them that's too bad and if he does not sign then get rid fast...
ambulance
1
You're old enough if you're good enough. He's good enough for sure. Play him more rather than some old tired has-beens.
ponablm
1
Odoi get out of there!
caoacdlntu
1
The press should leave Chelsea alone with the Odio issue. They're are the one fuelling this issue like paid agents of Bayern. Odio should be allowed to concentrate on his development at Chelsea. The worst scenario that can happen to Odio and Chelsea is keeping him till 2020. So why not leave him to concentrate on his football. If they're not paid agents, let the matter rest for now bcos Chelsea is not ready to sell for now.
Wodbeiks
0
i thought Zola is better than sarri after this comment I relieced that Zola and sarri out.
Wodbeiks
0
now i think odoi is ready to go a mean he has to go he will get match time in German. I'm a big fan of his but I don't see him playing as much as I want to to watch him playing. make your mind up Hudson. go to Bayern Munich.
Yorokiri
0
I just don't understand what's going on here,,, is either we have stupid people at the aims of affairs or they are just pretending to be stupid and if they are pretending to be stupid then they are doing a fantastic job... because I see no reason why you keep him if your not going to use him!!! I think Sarri and is crew have being given too much power by Granoskia
zaybceirty
0
sack chew sarri
zaybceirty
1
wdmc with sarri play d man😤😤😤😤
Riklmostyz
0
Zola u r a legend but u chat too much, look at Vinicious, Odoi n Sancho a year ago Odoi was way ahead of them. look at all three now. u n ur sorry ass coach continue to none productive willian n pedro over the youth, both of u should go.
chidesco1
2
Chelsea are an abuse to football youth systems all over the world. They waste young potentials. Perhaps, after zola's comments, maybe he's no better than his boss sarri after all.
Kelvinslah
2
how many academy players have left chelsea and really show their talent, the only I know about now is Ake. so if Odoi is demanding to leave let him go.
QuintonPetersen
1
I agree these guys are gonna get what's coming to them for not making use of such talent at there disposal
Victor_Tryst
0
Hudson odoi please go Sarri the smoker and Zola the one that smoke always enters the eyes couldn't use you and i don't want that talent waste