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BAYERN AND CHELSEA are locked in a stand-off over Callum Hudson-Odoi.

Bayern are waiting for a response to their improved £30million bid for the Blues teenager, which was revealed by SunSport.

 Bayern are still waiting for a response to their £30m bid for Callum Hudson-Odoi
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Bayern are still waiting for a response to their £30m bid for Callum Hudson-OdoiCredit: Chelsea FC - Getty
Chelsea assistant coach Gianfranco Zola admits interest in Callum Hudson-Odoi from Bayern Munich

The German giants are anxious determined not to lose face after making such a public, big-money move for the winger, 18, and are determined to get their man.

Chelsea are said to be clinging to the hope that they can persuade Hudson-Odoi to sign the new five-year deal which has been on the table for months.

But the Blues’ decision to sign winger Christian Pulisic for £58m from Borussia Dortmund last week – apparently without the knowledge of head coach Maurizio Sarri - has damaged their cause still further.

Bayern have made it clear to Chelsea that if they hold on to Hudson-Odoi beyond January, the price will drop.

 The youngster has been reduced to just one Premier League feature this season
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The youngster has been reduced to just one Premier League feature this seasonCredit: Reuters

The player’s current deal has just under 18 months to run and he would be free to talk to foreign clubs from January next year.

Football sources with no stake in the potential deal say Chelsea’s dilemma is made more difficult by the fact that selling Hudson-Odoi would make a very negative statement.

The teenager, who won the Under-17 World Cup with England in 2017, is widely regarded as the most talented product of Chelsea’s Academy of recent years.

If even he couldn’t establish himself in the Blues’ first team, it would raise further questions about the club’s youth development system.

 Chelsea are worried that selling Hudson-Odoi would make a very negative statement
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Chelsea are worried that selling Hudson-Odoi would make a very negative statementCredit: Reuters
Chelsea manager Maurizio Sarri doesn’t feel that Callum Hudson-Odoi is ready to play in the Premier League

But on the other hand Chelsea have pioneered the policy of big clubs stockpiling talented youngsters and making good money by selling on those who don’t make it at Stamford Bridge.

Bayern might yet be willing to go even higher than £30m for Hudson-Odoi, so Chelsea could try to drive the price up and then cash in on him.

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