Liverpool 'hold talks with Chelsea winger Callum Hudson-Odoi'

Posted Tuesday, April 02, 2019 by squawka.com

Liverpool have held talks with the agent of Callum Hudson-Odoi in regards to a potential move in the summer, according to reports.

Despite not starting a Premier League game for Chelsea so far, the 18-year-old has impressed many with his exciting performances in the Europa League and domestic cups this season, so much so that he earned his first England senior caps in the recent international break.

Could Hudson-Odoi join Liverpool? Five key things to know…

1. Hudson-Odoi has scored four goals in eight Europa League appearances for Chelsea this season.
2. The 18-year-old also picked up his first England caps recently but is yet to start a league match for the Blues.
3. Bayern Munich reportedly had a £35m bid rejected for the youngster in January, despite him handing in a transfer request.
4. Now, reports are suggesting Liverpool could go toe-to-toe with Bayern Munich for Hudson-Odoi in the summer.
5. Despite the rumours, Maurizio Sarri still believes Hudson-Odoi will remain a Chelsea player.

Hudson-Odoi's lack of playing time has already been a point of contention this season, with Bayern Munich reportedly tabling a number of bids during the January transfer window and while they appear set to come back again in the summer, they could now face competition from Liverpool.

According to German outlet Kicker, the Reds have already made contact with Hudson-Odoi's representatives, while Liverpool themselves have posted an article by the Mirror to the 'media watch' section of their official website.

The Wandsworth-born attacker has been a potent weapon in the Europa League for Maurizio Sarri, scoring four goals and creating a further two for his teammates in just eight appearances and could be a perfect fit for Jurgen Klopp's high-intensity style.

Given the high ceiling of the player and the upcoming transfer embargo at Stamford Bridge, Sarri has insisted he intends to keep Hudson-Odoi for next season and a new contract is said to be on the table.

"I am not able to say if he is going to sign a new contract, but I think he will stay here with us in every case," he told a press conference.

However, if Hudson-Odoi wants to leave, there is really very little Chelsea can do to stop him. The youngster's contract only runs until June 2020 and the Blues risk missing out on a serious financial reward if they don't let him go this summer.

Furthermore, both Bayern and Liverpool can offer him more playing time than he is currently being afforded in London.

The Bavarians will lose Arjen Robben, who has already stated his intention to leave at the end of the season, and Frank Ribery is no longer the force he once was, while Klopp's use of Xherdan Shaqiri this season – starting him 13 times – will give Hudson-Odoi hope that he can indeed have an impact at Anfield.

Klopp set for sizeable summer spend
Last year's sale of Philippe Coutinho means Liverpool recorded a bumper turnover in 2018 and Reds managing director Billy Hogan hinted in February that the extra funds could be given to Jurgen Klopp in the form of a transfer war chest.

"Putting Jurgen and the guys on the football side in a position to compete at the highest levels, that is always our focus and we see our contribution to that in the form of being able to run the business in a better way and being able to drive revenues to invest back into the team," he told FC Business.

Given their new-found financial clout, Liverpool could go toe-to-toe with Bayern and start making offers for Hudson-Odoi that even Chelsea and Roman Abramovich couldn't turn their noses up at.