Chelsea coach Maurizio Sarri has confirmed that Callum Hudson-Odoi will be staying at the Stamford Brigdge side regardless of his contract situation.
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The teenager has been linked with a move away from the club after a lack of first team opportunity, with the Blues rejecting several bids from Bundesliga giants Bayern Munich during the last January transfer window.
His current deal with the club expires in the summer of 2020
During the last international break, the youngster made his England debut against Czech Republic. Despite the fact that he has not started any Premier League game, he was handed his first England start by Gareth Southgate in the Euro 2020 qualifier against Montenegro on Monday.
“I think so. I can’t say if he is going to sign a new contract with us, but I think he is going to stay with us regardless,” Sarri said at a press conference ahead of his side’s game against Cardiff City this weekend.
Asked of Hudson-Odoi will start against Cardiff this weekend, he said: “I don’t know. I know very well the situation. Last season Callum was only 17 and he played three or four matches.
“This season he is very young, at the moment he has played, I don’t remember, 19 or 20 matches.
“The evolution is the right one. Probably he will play 30 or 35 matches in the right season. With Callum we are in the right path.”
He was also asked if he watched Hudson-Odoi during the just ended international break. He responded: “No, only 20 minutes because I had 14 players in the internationals so I didn’t have time to watch 20 matches.
“I watched England for 20 minutes. He didn’t start very well on the right, but did very well on the left. I know he prefers to play on the left.”
Chelsea and Sarri will be hoping to get a win against Cardiff as the race for the top four hots up.
The Blues are currently sixth on the Premier League table, three points behind Arsenal who are occupying the all important fourth position.
Do you think Callum Hudson-Odoi will eventually be a top player at Chelsea?