Chelsea have turned down an offer from Bayern Munich for Callum Hudson-Odoi, rejecting the German side’s attempt to land the winger in a deal worth £70m. Bayern wanted the 19-year-old on loan for the rest of the season with an option to buy for £70m next summer, but Chelsea’s decision leaves the European champions with a short timeframe to decide whether to try again before the transfer window shuts on Monday.
It is believed Chelsea could agree to the move if Bayern return with an obligation to make the deal permanent next summer. Frank Lampard, Chelsea’s manager, said he wanted to keep Hudson-Odoi after his side’s 4-0 win over Crystal Palace on Saturday. However, Bayern have long held an interest in the 19-year-old and were close to landing him before he signed a new five-year deal last September.
Hudson-Odoi, who has struggled to regain top form since suffering an achilles injury in April 2019, could have a difficult decision to make in the next 48 hours. He has not been a regular since Lampard’s arrival at the start of last season and is competing for a starting place with Hakim Ziyech, Christian Pulisic, Timo Werner and Kai Havertz.
While Hudson-Odoi is not desperate to leave after emerging from Chelsea’s academy, he needs game time to earn a place in England’s squad at next summer’s European Championship. He started against Palace but Lampard has urged him to work harder in training and admitted that uncertainty remains over his future. “There is no definitive answer,” Lampard said. “By Monday we will know the answer.”
