Former Chelsea winger Shaun Wright-Phillips believes that Callum Hudson-Odoi could fill the boots left behind by Eden Hazard at Stamford Bridge.
Hazard has now completed his switch to Real Madrid and while Christian Pulisic is coming into the club, Wright-Phillips thinks that the Chelsea youngster will be key.
Hudson-Odoi made his breakthrough to the Chelsea first-team last season although he is currently out with an Achilles injury.
But Wright-Phillips is expecting big things from the 18-year-old when he returns from injury.
He told 888Sport: “I think Callum Hudson-Odoi can go to the top.
“We’ve all seen the glimpses of what he’s capable of and if he plays regularly and he finds a consistency and it keeps happening for him then he can only grow and mature.
“He can then become the player we expect him to be and he’ll be key for Chelsea and England once he’s back fit.
“Callum Hudson-Odoi could be the missing piece that Chelsea need and the same goes for [Ruben] Loftus-Cheek. They will both be very important players for Chelsea next year.”
Wright-Phillips isn't surprised to see Hazard move on but he believes that Chelsea will be able to adapt despite facing a transfer ban.
He added: “Hazard is a massive asset to lose but at some point players like that want to try different challenges if their team is not completely dominating.
"It’s only a short career. But I don’t think Chelsea will struggle because with all of the players who they have out on loan – I believe it’s something like 41 players – surely if they haven’t been sold they’re considered good enough for the Premier League.
"If they bring back the right ones, I think they’ll be fine.”
Read the full 888sport interview with Shaun Wright-Philips and his thoughts on how Chelsea have the talent on loan to make up for loss of Hazard.
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