UK Edition
Chelsea to offer Callum Hudson-Odoi new contract after injury ends Bayern Munich's summer interest
Chelsea will reaffirm their commitment to Callum Hudson-Odoi by making the teenager another new contract offer while he recovers from the ruptured Achilles that has ended his season.
Hudson-Odoi flew to Barcelona to visit a specilaist on Tuesday and will then undergo surgery after confirming that the injury suffered in the draw against Burnley has ended his breakthrough season.
The 18-year-old winger has not given up on being fit for the start of next season, but the injury is likely to end Bayern Munich’s hopes of signing him during the summer.
And Chelsea can capitalise on the situation by showing Hudson-Odoi how highly they value him by offering him a new contract during his recovery.
Hudson-Odoi’s current deal expires at the end of next season and he had previously rejected all offers of an extension and handed in a transfer request in January in a bid to move to Bayern.
But Chelsea turned down the request, insisting Hudson-Odoi would not be sold in January or at the end of the season, despite interest from Bayern and Borussia Dortmund.
He has since started four Premier League games, which has resulted in a growing optimism that Hudson-Odoi will opt to stay at the club he joined in 2007.
Hudson-Odoi can expect to earn around £100,000-a-week if he decides to sign a new Chelsea contract and securing his future would be a huge boost to the club.
The Blues expect to lose Eden Hazard to Real Madrid this summer and are still unsure whether or not they will be able to sign any players with a two-window Fifa transfer ban hanging over them.
Hazard’s exit would free up Hudson-Odoi’s favoured position on the left, with incoming winger Christian Pulisic more comfortable on the right.
Other than missing the rest of Chelsea’s season, Hudson-Odoi will also miss the Uefa Nations League finals, having made his England senior debut in last month’s European Championship qualifiers against Czech Republic and Montenegro. England manager Gareth Southgate is also sweating over Harry Kane’s ankle injury.