Callum Hudson-Odoi has been hailed as an “outstanding talent” by former Germany star Michael Ballack.
Chelsea winger Hudson-Odoi is a transfer target for Bayern Munich, with the Bundesliga champions’ sporting director Hasan Salihamidzic confirming last week that talks remain ongoing between the clubs.
The 18-year-old has earned 10 first-team appearances for the Blues this season but is yet to make a Premier League start and is reportedly tempted by the prospect of greater opportunities with Bayern.
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“We’re talking about a player who just came recently from the youth level. He’s trying to achieve the step to the professional level in a top club,” Ballack told Omnisport.
“Chelsea have to evaluate whether they want to keep him or maybe send him on loan. I think that’s the philosophy of all top teams – to educate young, top players and to give them the possibility to play.
“It’s the most important thing during that young age, to play without losing the player. Bayern had their focus on Hudson-Odoi very early. We will see if the transfer is happening or not.”
“I don’t have any advice for him. He has to see if he has a realistic chance at Chelsea in the first team or not,” he said.
“[Recently] he was often part of it and showed his qualities. Is it the right time to go to another top club like Bayern? Every player has to decide this on his own. There’s no special recipe.”
The success of 18-year-old England international Jadon Sancho at Borussia Dortmund has been viewed, to a certain extent, as a motivation for Bayern’s interest in signing Hudson-Odoi.
Arsenal’s 19-year-old forward Reiss Nelson has also impressed on loan at Hoffenheim this season and England manager Gareth Southgate welcomed the openness to such opportunities among his next generation.