Callum Hudson-Odoi has revealed he has not spoken with Chelsea of late over his future at Stamford Bridge. He is on loan to Bayer Leverkusen but is also a transfer target of Arsenal.
The 22-year-old moved to the Bundesliga last summer to secure regular game time. He has since only featured in 13 German top-flight matches and started in seven for a total of 597 minutes. The winger has further failed to score for Die Werkself and has offered one assist.
He has scored a goal in the Champions League this season after striking in a 2-2 draw away to Atletico Madrid. Yet Hudson-Odoi would not keep the BayArena natives from falling into the Europa League. He enjoyed 468 minutes across six starts in the elite UEFA competition.
Now, Hudson-Odoi is facing a make-or-break few months to save his future at Chelsea. The three-cap England forward is only under contract in west London through to June 2024. He last signed an extension at Stamford Bridge back in September 2019 worth £120k-a-week.
Now, The Guardian reports Arsenal are tracking Hudson-Odoi with Chelsea likely to permit his permanent transfer this summer. The Blues product, who joined the club back in 2007, is unlikely to return to west London once his loan spell with Bayer Leverkusen has expired.
Hudson-Odoi opens up on his situation back at Chelsea as Arsenal eye a transfer
Hudson-Odoi has also had to watch on from afar as Chelsea revamp their attacking options with several mega-money transfers. Since Todd Boehly bought the Blues, they have signed Mykhaylo Mudryk, Raheem Sterling, Noni Madueke and Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang now.
Joao Felix also arrived in west London on loan in January and may yet secure a permanent deal. All the while Hudson-Odoi feels powerless to affect his position back at Chelsea with communication between the Arsenal transfer target and his club almost non-existent now.
“I have not spoken to them much recently at all,” Hudson-Odoi told Sky Sports. “I am not there. So, seeing all these players going, there is nothing I can say or do.
“At the end of the day, I am focused on the club here and trying to help as much as possible here. Whatever happens in the future, I do not know. All I can do is focus on what happens here.”
While Hudson-Odoi admits it is uncertain what the future could hold for him, Sky Germany reports the winger hopes to return to Chelsea. A future at Stamford Bridge remains his top objective. But he must now improve his performances to convince the Blues to retain him.
Arsenal will also hope Hudson-Odoi shows enough progress in Germany to merit a transfer with his contract at Chelsea expiring. The winger has only offered 16 goals and 22 assists in his 126 senior appearances in west London across all competitions since debuting in 2018.
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