Transfer Centre

Chelsea winger Callum Hudson-Odoi 'approached by two Saudi Arabian clubs'

By Darren Plant, Senior Reporter | 21 June 2023

Chelsea winger Hudson-Odoi 'approached by two Saudi clubs'

Two clubs from Saudi Arabia reportedly make an approach Chelsea winger Callum Hudson-Odoi, continuing a theme of Blues squad players being linked with the Middle East.

Callum Hudson-Odoi has reportedly become the latest Chelsea player to be targeted by Saudi Arabian clubs.

The Blues are eager to boost their position with FFP before June 30, the time when the accounts for the current season are calculated, and it requires them to make a wide range of cutbacks.

Mateo Kovacic, Mason Mount and Kai Havertz could all leave for rival Premier League clubs in due course, but a route out of Stamford Bridge has been established with the Saudi Pro League.

On Tuesday evening, it was confirmed that N'Golo Kante had signed for champions Al-Ittihad, rejecting the chance to extend his stay in West London.

Chelsea's hierarchy have also met with the relevant officials to discuss a range of potential sales, with it being suggested that as many as three Chelsea players could be sold for a fee.

Chelsea co-owner and chairman Todd Boehly before the match on April 18, 2023 © Reuters

Edouard Mendy, Kalidou Koulibaly and Hakim Ziyech are all on the brink of linking up with different teams in Saudi Arabia, Chelsea also reducing their wage bill in the process.

According to transfer expert Fabrizio Romano, two teams in the aforementioned division are also interested in securing a deal for Hudson-Odoi.

The former England international has just returned to his parent club on the back of a disappointing loan stint with Bayer Leverkusen, contributing just one goal and one assist during his 21 appearances.

Leverkusen turned down the opportunity to sign the winger on a permanent basis, leaving Chelsea in a position where they will consider offers from elsewhere with the academy graduate having just one year left on his contract.

Callum Hudson-Odoi celebrates scoring for Bayer Leverkusen on October 4, 2022 © Reuters

Romano adds that it is unclear whether the 22-year-old would consider moving to Saudi Arabia at this stage of his career, while discussions have not begun on the player's side.

Nevertheless, it appears that Hudson-Odoi, who has 16 goals and 22 assists from 126 outings for Chelsea to his name, will have the opportunity to explore that option.

In recent weeks, Nottingham Forest and Lazio have each been linked with a potential bid for the attacker, the latter managed by Maurizio Sarri who handed him his Chelsea debut.

Any sale of Hudson-Odoi would be viewed as particularly beneficial for Chelsea courtesy of any fee going down as pure profit in their books, a necessary route of raising funds having spent in excess of £600m across two transfer windows.