Football
Tom Hamilton, Senior Writer 5y

Callum Hudson-Odoi still set on leaving Chelsea despite transfer ban - source

Callum Hudson-Odoi is still set on leaving Chelsea in the summer despite reports the club will turn down any bids for him, a source has told ESPN FC.

Bayern Munich have failed with four bids for Hudson-Odoi, who has yet to start a Premier League game for Chelsea and wants to leave in search of regular first team football.

The last bid for the 18-year-old arrived in January and was around £35 million, which was rejected. Chelsea have since been served with a transfer ban by FIFA -- the club plan to appeal -- which sparked reports they would reject offers for all their players in the summer as they would not be able to sign replacements.

Hudson-Odoi, though, remains keen on leaving, a source told ESPN FC. He will have 12 months left on his contract in June, meaning the summer is the final time Chelsea would be able to command a sizeable fee for one of their brightest talents.

Bayern, having seen Jadon Sancho thrive since leaving Manchester City for Borussia Dortmund last summer, are keen to follow suit and sign promising English talent from the Premier League.

Sporting director Hasan Salihamidzic has said the Bundesliga champions "absolutely want to sign" Hudson-Odoi and with Bayern set for a big summer of spending, the England man remains on their radar.

The Chelsea academy graduate is understood to have no issue moving abroad at this stage of his career, the source added.

Hudson-Odoi has featured 21 times for club and country this season and has become a full England international, having come on as a substitute against Czech Republic and then started against Montenegro in Euro 2020 qualifying.

Meanwhile, UEFA also confirmed an ethics and disciplinary inspector has been appointed to evaluate a complaint lodged by Chelsea about alleged racist abuse of Hudson-Odoi during the club's 5-0 Europa League win away at Dynamo Kiev on March 14.

The player was also subject to racist chants from Montenegro fans during England's 5-1 win on March 25. A UEFA statement confirmed on Tuesday that Montenegro have been charged with racist behaviour as well as a string of other offences.

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