Hudson-Odoi demands Chelsea exit

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Chelsea attacker Callum Hudson-Odoi has allegedly told the Blues that he wants to leave the club in search of regular first-team football.

The 21-year-old has struggled to become a regular part of Thomas Tuchel’s plans over the likes of Timo Werner, Mason Mount, Kai Havertz, Hakim Ziyech and Christian Pulisic.

Injuries have not helped Hudson-Odoi, who has also enjoyed brief stints as a wing-back under Tuchel, but Reece James, Ben Chilwell and Marc Cucurella are now competing for those roles.

Hudson-Odoi only made 27 appearances in all competitions for Chelsea in the 2021-22 season – eleven of which came from the first whistle in the Premier League.

The England Under-21 international amassed a mere three goals and four assists in the process, and his contract at Stamford Bridge now only has two years left to run.

Hudson-Odoi did play an active part in Chelsea’s pre-season period, but he was not in Tuchel’s squad for Saturday’s opening Premier League win against Everton.

Previous reports had claimed that Chelsea were considering offloading the attacker this summer, and according to Sky Sports News, he has now informed the West London club that he wants to advance his career elsewhere.

Hudson-Odoi’s entourage have supposedly been given the green light to sound out interest in the Englishman, who should not be short of offers if he seals an anticipated exit from Stamford Bridge.

Borussia Dortmund, Juventus and two unnamed Premier League clubs – one of which is believed to be Southampton – are said to be interested in a loan deal for Hudson-Odoi.

The Chelsea academy graduate has risen through the youth ranks to make 125 appearances for the club’s first team in all competitions, registering 16 goals and 20 assists.

Hudson-Odoi has won the Champions League, Europa League, Club World Cup and UEFA Super Cup during his time at Stamford Bridge, as well as becoming Under-17 world champion with England in 2017.

He is not the only Chelsea attacker who could depart in the coming weeks, as Werner has supposedly also told the Blues that he wants to find a new club, and Ziyech is on the radar of Manchester United.

Having already let Romelu Lukaku rejoin Inter Milan on loan, Tuchel is now said to be open to the idea of signing Barcelona and ex-Arsenal striker Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang.