Callum Hudson-Odoi has already completed one Chelsea U-turn in his fledgling career – and another could be on the horizon very soon.
Back in January 2019, the winger’s future at Stamford Bridge appeared bleak.
Unable to break into then manager Maurizio Sarri’s starting lineup, it looked extremely likely he would follow Jadon Sancho’s lead and move to the Bundesliga.
Bayern Munich launched a number of bids for the England international and despite handing in a transfer request, he remained in west London.
Following that decision, Sarri decided to use Hudson-Odoi, who impressed in the final months of the window, before a ruptured Achilles slammed the brakes on the promising start to his Blues career.
Sarri’s spell at the club would ultimately end that summer, but any concerns about winning over the new manager, were put to rest.
And under Frank Lampard, he decided to tie his long-term future to the club, playing under a manager, who believed in him implicitly.
After signing that deal, Lampard said: “I am not going to say things that are pie in the sky but, with his talent, he can be central to this team, he can be central to England.
“He can show, right here at Chelsea, the team he came through the academy at, that he is going to be a world-class player - because I truly believe that.”
He made 33 appearances last term under Lampard, after he made a speedy recovery from serious injury.
But 12 months after penning a new contract, he appears at yet another crossroads.
The arrivals of Hakim Ziyech, Timo Werner and Kai Havertz, have meant opportunities in Chelsea’s first team, could once again become limited.
Havertz and Werner have both been given the nod in the opening pair of Premier League games, with Hudson-Odoi having to settle for just 10 minutes of action.
He is likely to be involved against Barnsley in the Carabao Cup, but Lampard hardly closed the door on a potential departure on Tuesday.
Ahead of the clash with the Tykes, Lampard explained: “We’re not in a period where the transfer window or market is acting like it has done in recent years in terms of how players move or what level they move at. Again the competitive games have just started.
“I’m very open to those conversations with the players as the next couple of weeks go on.
“We know in a Premier League squad and the number of games we’re going to play, we need competition in those areas, back-ups in those areas and players competing to make that position their own.
“That’s where Callum is at and that’s why I keep saying he needs to train, he needs to show in training every day and when he gets his opportunity in games, which he will have tomorrow because he will play against Barnsley.
“He has to show in every minute, on and off the ball, what he can do for the team and that’s the position Callum is at at the minute.”
With Bayern Munich, Real Madrid and Juventus all linked with a move, Hudson-Odoi may feel he is at the stage of his career, where regular minutes are essential to his development.
He will look at the progression of Sancho at Dortmund and wonder what could happen if he took up Bayern’s latest offer, with the European champions still big fans of the England international.
If he is to stay with Chelsea, he will have to make his limited minutes count, starting with Barnsley tonight.
