When Chelsea sent Callum Hudson-Odoi on loan to Bayer Leverkusen back in August, the one thing the club was hoping for from the stint away was a chance at consistent minutes in a top-five European league.
That has certainly been provided for the 22-year-old in Germany despite the turmoil faced by Die Werkself in a disappointing start to their campaign: sitting in 12th with only three wins and knocked out of their Champions League group before the final matchday.
What Chelsea could get in return for Hudson-Odoi's development is a more confident playmaker in addition to a new signing in 2023 who has been playing alongside the Cobham graduate.
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As first reported by Rob Pratley, Chelsea is eyeing up a number of younger full-back options heading into the new year as cover is needed for Reece James.
Not only has James' frequent injury issues become a growing concern, but the lack of adequate backup for him has also vastly limited options when he has not been available: forcing either Cesar Azpilicueta or Ruben Loftus-Cheek into an unfamiliar or makeshift role.
Leverkusen's Jeremie Frimpong is said to be on a list of targets that also includes Southampton's Kyle Walker-Peters, Lyon's Malo Gusto, with Pedro Porro from Sporting and Inter wing-back Denzel Dumfries also mentioned.
Having watched Frimpong closely so far this term, a move for the 21-year-old looks to be a shrewd one given his raw potential and versatility to operate in a more conventional full-back role on the right flank, as a wing-back and also as a natural winger. All of these roles Frimpong has already occupied for his club this season, making his dual purpose an attractive proposition for a coach like Graham Potter who likes flexibility within his squad.
Frimpong could not only offer the speed Chelsea have greatly lacked without James fit, but also provides the Netherlands international with the opportunity to play higher up the pitch, maybe uncovering a devastating wide threat that Chelsea have been accused on lacking in that area since the departure of Eden Hazard in 2019.
The CIES Football Observatory, which assesses the transfer value of professional footballers on a scientific basis, calculates that Frimpong's current transfer value would be just over £30million, not a steep fee in the current market for a player with years ahead of him.
Todd Boehly and Chelsea's new owners have already demonstrated a keen interest in acquiring exciting young talents at a premium with hopes they can develop into valuable first-team members in the future. Frimpong is still raw, but has enough Bundesliga and Champions League experience to demand a bigger fee, along with the trust he could make a significant step up in the coming years.
As Kai Havertz did for Leverkusen when he helped convince Hudson-Odoi that his old club was the best destination for his career, should Boehly pursue Frimpong in January, the American will be hoping Chelsea's loanee convinces his peer about a switch to Stamford Bridge.
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