Chelsea, David Luiz advise Hudson-Odoi to be smart and stay patient

Callum Hudson-Odoi has featured in four straight Chelsea matches in all competitions (two starts) and has made ten appearances all season — surely we have to go back a fair few years to find another teenager with double-digit appearances — but that may not be enough to persuade him to stay with the club beyond this season.

While there is little chance of the 18-year-old leaving this January, at the moment he’s reportedly willing to take his chances at Bayern starting in the summer. He’s rejected a couple recent Chelsea contract offers, despite the hefty wages on offer, as his main considerations are regarding playing time and development pathway than any material concerns.

But according to Simon Johnson of the Evening Standard, Chelsea have “warned” Hudson-Odoi that Bayern’s promises of fame and fortune are more fantasy than a guarantee, and that he would play “even less” there than he had been up to this point at Chelsea. Such advice is obviously self-serving from the club, though that doesn’t necessarily make it incorrect.

Meanwhile, Chelsea spiritual leader David Luiz has urged the youngster to stay patient as well, and while he didn’t directly advise him to stay, if Callum heeds this advice, he’s much more likely to choose to stay and extend with the Blues.

The narrative around Hudson-Odoi, certainly as pushed from the club’s perspective, has changed a bit from an emphasis on Callum’s future importance and playing time promises, to the kid actively looking to ditch Chelsea because he thinks the grass is greener on the other side, shifting the responsibility away from the club and onto the player himself.

Either way, Hudson-Odoi has a big decision to make in the next few months; let’s hope he chooses wisely.