Chelsea have indicated their willingness to cancel Callum Hudson-Odoi’s contract at Stamford Bridge handing West Ham United the perfect transfer opportunity this summer.
The Blues academy graduate was sent out on a season-long loan to Bayer Leverkusen
scoring just once in 21 appearances in all competitions.The Blues academy graduate was sent out on a season-long loan to Bayer Leverkusen
CBS journalist Ben Jacobs, writing in his Caught Offside substack column (27 June), the Hammers along with several other Premier League clubs have enquired about his availability at Stamford Bridge, with the attacker set to hold talks with Mauricio Pochettino over his future
And The Guardian reported on 28 June, that the £120,000-per-week winger could cost around £15m to prize him away from Chelsea and that West Ham United are indeed monitoring his services, with Harvey Barnes the priority attacking target.
However, in a new twist at Stamford Bridge, it seems as if the West Londoners want to hand the young winger a potential exit plan.
According to London World [4 July] Chelsea have asked Hudson-Odoi to consider a reduction on his £120,000-a-week wages if he wants to stay and fight for his spot under new manager Pochettino. However, an alternative route has been handed too, which may give West Ham all the encouragement they need to make their move.
It’s believed that the Blues have also expressed a willingness to cancel the winger’s contract if he was willing to halve his wages, the club would then pay him the remainder and terminate his contract, paving the way for him to join another club of his choice as a free agent.
With the Irons set to undergo a massive squad rebuild following the expected departures of Declan Rice, Michail Antonio, Tomas Soucek and a few others, manager David Moyes may well be tempted to splash the cash, and one area in desperate need of addressing is in the attacking areas both the striker position and out-wide.
Certainly, the Hammers are set for a huge windfall, particularly from impending the Rice big-money £100m-plus sale to Arsenal but the West Ham United board certainly won’t be rejecting the chance at some free transfer opportunities, and Callum Hudson-Odoi is a player ideally suited to what Moyes is trying to rebuild in East London.
Hudson-Odoi, in desperate need of a career refresh after some tough spells in Germany and back at Chelsea in previous campaigns, may not find a better opportunity to make his name again than at the London Stadium.
Despite his struggles at Leverkusen last year, there still remains a special talent in the 22-year-old – one which West Ham United will know very well. Last season, he ranked in the 87th percentile for progressive carries highlighting incredible 1v1 dribbling qualities and the ability to push his team up the pitch, but he also recorded 3.86 shot-creating actions per league game which was the third-highest total throughout Xabi Alonso’s squad, via FBRef.
Hudson-Odoi would further add excellent versatility to Moyes’ ranks next season, with his ability to operate all across the frontline and even three roles in the midfield.
Also, with the West Ham boss looking to bolster his squad with young British talent this summer, there’s no better flagship addition than the Wandsworth-born Chelsea wizard. This is potentially an amazing free transfer opportunity, the door is wide open for the Irons to move in.
