Maurizio Sarri says Chelsea will have to sell one of their wingers in the summer if Callum Hudson-Odoi is to feature more regularly for the senior side.
In his first start since the close of the winter transfer window, Hudson-Odoi scored a goal in the Blues’ 3-0 Europa League victory over Malmo at Stamford Bridge. Apart from the goal, the 18-year-old’s overall display impressed the crowd so much so, prompting fans to serenade him with: “We want you to stay.”
The London-native has been subjected to multiple bids from Bayern Munich in January, with Chelsea rejecting every offer, including a third bid by the Bavarian’s reportedly worth £35 million. During that time, Hudson-Odoi also had a transfer request rejected by the club hierarchy yet the London-native is understood to still be adamant of leaving west London. He is yet to start in the Premier League under Sarri while the arrival of Christian Pulisic next summer would only intensify the competition for places in the Chelsea flanks.
The teenager is holding off from signing a new contract due to the lack of opportunities in the senior squad and while Sarri has expressed his desire of keeping Hudson-Odoi at the club, he admits one of Chelsea’s established wingers in the first-team – Eden Hazard, Willian or Pedro – would have to leave in order for the academy graduate to play more significant minutes on the pitch.
“I think he played very well,” Sarri said of the 18-year-old winger. “But I think, also, that [Andreas] Christensen played very well, Emerson played very well. So I’m really very happy with these three players. I think that, at the moment, they are ready to play with consistency.”
Quizzed on what Hudson-Odoi must do in order to start a league match, Sarri said: “You need to understand that, in the same position, we have Pedro, Willian and Hazard. So it’s not easy for a young player to play with the consistency of his teammates.
“I want to remind you that Callum played 14 matches. There isn’t, in England, another 18-year-old player with 14 matches in the first-team, so I think that we are using him in the right way at the moment. Of course, the 20 matches this season will be 30 matches in the next, and 40 in two years.
“Also, I think that the club has to decide. If I am at the club and I want Callum on the team consistently, I have to sell another winger.”
