Callum Hudson-Odoi determined to leave Chelsea and join Bayern Munich as successor to Arjen Robben
The 18-year-old - who has already agreed personal terms with Bayern - has been identified as the Bundesliga side's No 1 target
CALLUM HUDSON-ODOI has no intention of staying at Chelsea - paving the way for a move to Bayern Munich.
Bayern have made the teenage sensation their No1 target this month and have already agreed terms with the winger who is determined to join the Bundesliga champions.
Boss Niko Kovac has earmarked the 18-year-old as the long-term successor to Arjen Robben who will leave at the end of the season.
However, Bayern’s two bids have been rejected by Chelsea for the Under-17 World Cup winner who has 18 months left on his current deal.
And the German’s have told Chelsea to name their price for the South Londoner so a deal can be wrapped up this month.
The Blues were hoping the exciting attacker would go on to be a future star and a glowing endorsement of the club’s heavily criticised youth policy.
Hudson-Odoi’s exit will be seen as a PR disaster for the club’s Cobham academy - owner Roman Abramovich has invested millions in the hope of producing players to break into the first-team on a regular basis.
Assistant boss Gianfranco Zola speaking ahead the FA Cup third round tie against Nottingham Forest pleaded with Hudson-Odoi to stick around.
Zola said: "We would be happy to see an academy player come through but it is not easy for anyone.
"He is still in a period that he is showing a lot of potential, but there are top players in front. It is about patience.
"He has a bright future with us, but he will have to learn sometimes. Now it is important to get better. Not about why he isn’t playing 20 games, he has to just get better."
But Zola’s words have fallen on deaf ears as the club’s top brass will be rocked by the ambitious kid who will tell them he has no interest in discussing fresh terms and wants out.
The teenager is desperate to continue his development – but does not see a clear pathway to regular first-team action at Stamford Bridge.
Chelsea have paid Borussia Dortmund £58million for USA star Christian Pulisic who will move to England next season.
And with Blues chasing a world class striker and the addition of the American, the academy product could be forced even further down the pecking order.
Hudson-Odoi made four appearances last term after helping England win the Under-17 World Cup.
But after a sparkling pre-season, the forward has been restricted to Europa League action and just 42 minutes of Premier League football this term.
England midfielder Ruben Loftus-Cheek rose through the ranks at Stamford Bridge, but after enhancing his reputation with the Three Lions at the World Cup, his progress has ground to a halt this term.
Hudson-Odoi joined Chelsea aged six, but has looked across the continent to see Jadon Sancho’s rapid rise at Dortmund, ironically at the expense of Stamford Bridge bound Pulisic.