Hudson-Odoi is a player we absolutely want to sign - Bayern chief
Chelsea are facing a fight to keep hold of young winger Callum Hudson-Odoi, who is being targeted by Bayern Munich.
Bayern Munich sporting director Hasan Salihamidzic says Chelsea winger Callum Hudson-Odoi is a player they "absolutely want to sign".
Hudson-Odoi has started Chelsea's last two games but is reportedly keen to leave Stamford Bridge to further his burgeoning career.
Bayern are believed to have met Chelsea's asking price of £35million and, with the 18-year-old unwilling to discuss a new contract, a move seems to be edging closer during the January transfer window.
Salihamidzic told reporters on Bayern's winter training camp in Doha: "He's a very interesting player that we absolutely want to sign.
"He has qualities that suit our game. He's a strong dribbler, fast, and carries a goal threat."
Sometimes you win, sometimes you learn...! pic.twitter.com/2UvjiOs6xQ— Callum Hudson-Odoi (@Calteck10) January 8, 2019
Bayern are on the look-out for wingers with Arjen Robben confirming he will leave at the end of the season and Salihamidzic admitting on Wednesday "it's probably going to be Franck [Ribery's] last year".
Hudson-Odoi would certainly fill one of those voids and, if he does move, would continue the trend of young English players thriving in the Bundesliga.
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Jadon Sancho and Reiss Nelson, former England Under-17 team-mates of Hudson-Odoi, have made a huge impression this season at Borussia Dortmund and Hoffenheim respectively.
Speaking after Tuesday's first-leg defeat to Tottenham in the EFL Cup semi-finals, Chelsea boss Maurizio Sarri insisted Hudson-Odoi had not been distracted by the speculation.
The Italian said: "Odoi in the last week has been very normal. I have seen him every day in training, he has been really very normal.
"He is improving, in the last match he played very well and also today I think a very good match.
"He played like a player of 25 or 26 years, I think – very good match of application, very good in the defensive phase, very, very good.
"He was completely normal in this period. I don't know, maybe he doesn't read anything."