In a recent report, The Daily Star has offered an update on the future of Chelsea winger Callum Hudson-Odoi. It is understood that the English wide player’s career at Stamford Bridge hinges on whether the Blues manage to acquire the services of Achraf Hakimi from Inter Milan during this summer transfer window (via The Daily Star).
Hudson-Odoi’s Impressive Form Under Thomas Tuchel Recently
Hudson-Odoi has impressed in patches under the tutelage of Thomas Tuchel and deserves credit for converting himself into a decent wing-back at Stamford Bridge. The 20-year-old registered five goals and five assists in 37 matches for the West London club last season across multiple competitions.
The London-born sensation has caught the eye by averaging 1.0 shots, 1.2 key passes and 0.7 dribbles per 90 minutes in the Premier League and the UEFA Champions League. He has even been excellent when interchanging possession with his teammates from the right-wing after making 85.7% of his attempted passes in both those competitions (stats via whoscored).
Hudson-Odoi is still under contract at Stamford Bridge until the summer of 2024. However, he is not a guaranteed starter under Tuchel as he is currently fighting with Reece James for a place on the right-wing. The potential arrival of Hakimi could put the English youngster further down Tuchel’s pecking order that might jeopardise his long-term future at West London. Also, the Chelsea winger is most comfortable at left wing, so there’s that to consider.
What Should Be Tuchel’s Play With Regards To Hudson-Odoi’s Future?
Hudson-Odoi is blessed with electric pace and can make some well-timed runs with the ball out on the wide areas. He can get himself into some promising areas in the final third and can also contribute by scoring and setting up a few important goals for his team.
The English talent is versatile enough to play anywhere across the frontline. He is primarily a left-sided wide player but can also operate on the right flank or play as an attacking midfielder down the middle.
The way Hudson-Odoi has been playing of late, he deserves to stay and fight for a first-team place at Stamford Bridge in the coming seasons. However, Tuchel loves to play the 3-4-2-1 formation, so an accomplished wing-back like Hakimi will be an upgrade over Hudson-Odoi, who can be a weak defensive presence on the right-wing.
Hence, the Blues will be better off cashing in on the English youngster or sending him out on loan as Hakimi is more than capable of making the right wing-back position his own if the West London giants can find a way to get him on board before the start of the new campaign.
