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Chelsea manager Frank Lampard has refused to rule out Callum Hudson-Odoi leaving the club before the transfer window closes.
The winger has appeared in just nine minutes of Chelsea’s first two Premier League games this season and faces increased competition for a starting spot following the arrivals of Timo Werner and Hakim Ziyech.
Hudson-Odoi was eager to leave the club in 2018 and submitted a transfer request to force a move to Bayern Munich while Maurizio Sarri was in command.
However, he signed a new long-term contract to stay at Stamford Bridge following Lampard’s appointment and the arrival of the former Derby boss was seen as a positive for the English international.
But that didn’t materialize with Hudson-Odoi battling for playing time and has been linked to a departure from the club, both permanently and on loan.
With so many signings at the club this summer, Lampard needs to cut his squad and Antonio Rudiger appears to be another victim of newcomers with the German missing out on the first two games.
Hudson-Odoi will play Barnsley in the League Cup, but Lampard says that’s not proof of his long-term future at the club and says he can still leave before the transfer window closes.
When asked directly about Rudiger and Hudson-Odoi, Lampard said: ‘I’m going to sidestep that question. It remains to be seen.
“We are not in a period where the transfer window or the market is acting as it has in recent years in terms of how players move or at what level they move.
‘Once again, competitive games have just begun. I’m very open to those conversations with the players over the next few weeks. My priority will always be to make sure I keep and maintain the strongest team I can for this club, but after that, of course, individual conversations will happen within that. I’ll try to make sure I get into the season once the window closes with the team that I think is competitive in a healthy way. ”
Edouard Mendy will become Chelsea’s seventh signing of the summer once he puts pen to paper on a five-year contract at the club.
Chelsea’s spending will be over and the club will focus on recouping some of its £ 230 million outlay.
Lampard admits he needs to cut back on his gear and that could lead to some tough conversations.
“There are decisions that I must make, that the club must make and the players themselves. That is the situation now.
“ Of course, I have an idea of the number in the squad that I want the squad to have healthy competition, but not have so many players who don’t compete regularly and sit outside the squad and not get the minutes they want. .
‘Those are many conversations that I will have in the future. It does not mean that we are forced into any of those positions or areas to move players. But those talks will continue for weeks to come. ‘
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