According to a recent report by Spanish news outlet El Desmarque, European giants Real Madrid are said to be eyeing up a potential summer move for Chelsea winger Callum Hudson-Odoi. The youngster, who recently turned 19, is widely regarded as one of the most exciting products that the Chelsea academy has ever created. The Blues’ reluctance to sell the Englishman has been no secret over the past couple of transfer windows either.
How Did Callum Hudson-Odoi Make A Name For Himself?
The youngster has been a member of the Chelsea academy since he joined the club back in 2008, aged just eight. The Englishman had to toil extremely hard to make it this far up the Chelsea ranks but got the stroke of luck he needed when the Blues were imposed with a two-window transfer ban last summer. Although he rose to fame last season, the Blues former manager Maurizio Sarri was reluctant to trust the youngsters in the side.
The 2017/18 FA Youth Cup is where the youngster first broke into the minds of the Chelsea staff. He scored ten goals in seven games for the Blues’ academy side and hasn’t looked back since. He impressed whenever he was given an opportunity in the first team last season, and he’s done well so far this term as well. Although he is yet to open his Premier League account for the Blues, his three assists from six games is a decent return to be fair.
What Is The Youngster’s Current Situation At Stamford Bridge?
Chelsea have unquestionably been the surprise package of the season so far, especially considering that the Blues were touted to struggle by most pundits, owing to their unexpected transfer ban. Although they didn’t start the season the best possible way, to say that Lampard’s young side has risen to the occasion would only be an understatement.
Christian Pulisic and Willian do seem to be first-choice at Stamford Bridge. Still, the fact that Hudson-Odoi is placed above Spanish veteran Pedro in the pecking order is a massive compliment to the youngster’s quality. Frank Lampard hasn’t been reluctant to put his trust in the youngster this season, having played him at least once in every competition.
Can The Blues Afford To Sell Callum Hudson-Odoi?
Chelsea have been fortunate with the timing of their unfortunate transfer ban. Although it’s the kind of thing that would have most clubs struggling to make up the numbers, Chelsea’s loan army, which had come under a lot of scrutiny in recent years, finally came good. Players like Tammy Abraham, Mason Mount and even former Wigan loanee Reece James, all stepped up to the plate when their parent club needed them the most.
With that said though, Hudson-Odoi has been extremely highly rated for a good reason. His trickery and dribbling ability on the ball is matched by few players in the Chelsea team. The fact that he is getting so much playing time at just 19 is undoubtedly a sign of his overall quality. Although the Blues could probably squeeze a monstrous figure out of Los Blancos for the youngster’s services, it seems unlikely that the Blues will sell their most exciting starlet, after only recently warding off some strong German interest.
