Bayern making ‘real push’ for Chelsea’s Callum Hudson-Odoi — report

After reports from Germany by Sport BILD, it is now ESPN FC’s Raphael Honigstein (h/t Bavarian Football Works) who’s reinforcing the claims that Callum Hudson-Odoi is a target for Bayern Munich in their great rejuvenation of 2019 (alongside other young talents like Bayer Leverkusen’s Kai Havertz and Atlético Madrid’s Lucas Hernández).

Bayern may or may not have agreed to pay Lucas Hernández’s buyout clause already, a cool €85 million — something not completely dismissed by club chairman Karl-Heinz Rummenigge — but up front they are still exploring their options.

Hudson-Odoi would certainly provide the “pace” and “youth” that is in demand these days, especially in Geramny where Borussia Dortmund is once again a force to be reckoned with thanks in good part to their teenage superstars like Jadon Sancho, recently in a similar situation to Hudson-Odoi at Manchester City.

The 18-year-old Hudson-Odoi has 1.5 years left on his current contract but has been reluctant to sign the extension offered due to a reative lack of playing time. At Bayern, CHO would conceivably be the one to fill Franck Ribéry’s shoes for years to come. However, Chelsea have similarly well-laid plans for the youngster, projecting him as Eden Hazard’s successor.

From a neutral point of view, it is interesting to see German clubs especially keen on winning with youth — and increasingly English youth as the top Premier League Academies churn out the talent. From a Chelsea point of view, it’s obviously quite worrying — if Bayern can give the likes of Hudson-Odoi playing time, surely we can, too?

Hudson-Odoi’s future it turning into quite a game of tug-of-war.

Whoever has the strongest pull will win.