MX23RW : Friday, November 15 03:28:37| >> :120:45581:45581:

Willian urges Callum Hudson-Odoi to stay and fulfil his potential at Chelsea

Willian urges Callum Hudson-Odoi to stay and fulfil his potential at Chelsea
© Reuters
Hudson-Odoi has submitted a transfer request after public declarations of interest from Bayern Munich.

Willian says Callum Hudson-Odoi can be one of the world's best players if he stays at Chelsea.

Hudson-Odoi submitted a transfer request after public declarations of interest from Bayern Munich, which have been branded unprofessional by Chelsea boss Maurizio Sarri.

Reports on Monday suggested Chelsea have rejected Hudson-Odoi's request and have no intention of selling prior to Thursday's closure of the transfer window.

Willian believes Hudson-Odoi has great potential, which he can fulfil at Stamford Bridge.

Antonio Rudiger, Callum Hudson-Odoi and Willian
Antonio Rudiger (second left) and Willian (right) hope Callum Hudson-Odoi (third from left) stays at Chelsea (Nick Potts/PA)

"Of course we want him to stay. We don't want him to leave," the Brazilian said.

"He can become one of the best players for Chelsea, one of the best players in the world, in the future. He has to stay.

"He's only 18, but he can improve a lot to become one of the best players."

Sarri started Hudson-Odoi – who has played for Chelsea since the under-eights and is under contract until June 2020 – for a sixth time this season in Sunday's 3-0 FA Cup fourth-round win over Sheffield Wednesday.

Antonio Rudiger
Germany international Antonio Rudiger has been asked about life in Germany by Callum Hudson-Odoi (Andrew Matthews/PA)

The Blues boss was rewarded as Hudson-Odoi netted his second goal for the club, after which some fans sang "we want you to stay".

Defender Antonio Rudiger believes it would be a "pity" if the 18-year-old leaves Chelsea and has called on the Blues to make him stay and sign a new contract.

Rudiger admitted earlier in January that Hudson-Odoi had asked him about life in Germany.

The Germany international, who joined Chelsea from Roma in July 2017 and began his career at Stuttgart, said: "What I can say is clear, Chelsea have to make him stay. It will be a pity if this young talent leaves us.

Willian and Callum Hudson-Odoi
Willian (centre) believes Callum Hudson-Odoi (right) has great potential (Nick Potts/PA)

"Chelsea need to give him a new contract."

Willian added: "We tell him all the time to stay here.

"We know how important he is for this club and for us and we just want him to stay."

Hudson-Odoi has been repeatedly linked with a move to Bayern, who have reportedly tabled a bid of £35million, while there has been speculation Chelsea are prepared to match the Bundesliga champions' financial offer.

Sarri's decision to play Hudson-Odoi on Sunday may be an indication that Chelsea will not be prepared to allow him to leave.

However, the game time may have come too late in Hudson-Odoi's eyes.

Hudson-Odoi's six starts have come in cup competitions and the Europa League. He counts a total of five substitute appearances for the Blues this season and two goals.

He is yet to start in the Premier League; three substitute appearances are the sum total of his appearances in the top flight and the first of those came at Watford on Boxing Day.

Chelsea play at Bournemouth in the Premier League on Wednesday, with the transfer window closing a day later.

It remains to be seen if Hudson-Odoi will still be a Chelsea player by the time the Blues face Huddersfield in the league on Saturday.

ga('create', 'UA-72310761-1', 'auto', {'name': 'pacontentapi'});
ga('pacontentapi.set', 'referrer', location.origin);
ga('pacontentapi.set', 'dimension1', 'By Matt McGeehan, Press Association Sport');
ga('pacontentapi.set', 'dimension2', '2ee72e49-38b0-4c98-8a45-d18e15daa1af');
ga('pacontentapi.set', 'dimension3', 'paservice:sport,paservice:sport:club-news,paservice:sport:football,paservice:sport:uk,paservice:sport:world');
ga('pacontentapi.set', 'dimension6', 'story');
ga('pacontentapi.set', 'dimension7', 'composite');
ga('pacontentapi.set', 'dimension8', null);
ga('pacontentapi.set', 'dimension9', 'sport:football');
ga('pacontentapi.send', 'pageview', { 'location': location.href, 'page': (location.pathname + location.search + location.hash), 'title': 'Willian urges Callum Hudson-Odoi to stay and fulfil his potential at Chelsea'});

ID:348477: cacheID:348477:1false2false3false:QQ:: from db desktop :LenBod:restore:10115:
Restore Data
Share this article now:
Callum Hudson-Odoi after Chelsea's FA Cup win over Sheffield Wednesday on January 27, 2019.
Read Next:
Rudiger urges Chelsea to hand Hudson-Odoi new contract
>
rhs 2.0
Today's games header
Tables header RHS
TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1Liverpool119112161528
2Manchester CityMan City117222213923
3Chelsea115422113819
4Arsenal115421812619
5Nottingham ForestNott'm Forest115421510519
6Brighton & Hove AlbionBrighton115421915419
7Fulham115331613318
8Newcastle UnitedNewcastle115331311218
9Aston Villa115331717018
10Tottenham HotspurSpurs1151523131016
11Brentford115152222016
12Bournemouth114341515015
13Manchester UnitedMan Utd114341212015
14West Ham UnitedWest Ham113351319-612
15Leicester CityLeicester112451421-710
16Everton112451017-710
17Ipswich TownIpswich111551222-108
18Crystal Palace11146815-77
19Wolverhampton WanderersWolves111371627-116
20Southampton11119721-144


Sports Mole provides in-depth previews and predictions for every match from the biggest leagues and competitions in world football.
Argentina's Lionel Messi kisses the World Cup trophy after collecting the Golden Ball award on December 18, 2022Sign up for our FREE daily preview newsletter direct to your inbox!