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Jake Stokes

Thomas Tuchel must listen to Eden Hazard blessing to finally unlock £70m Bayern Munich target

Thomas Tuchel must ignore Callum Hudson-Odoi's latest message ahead of the summer transfer window, should Chelsea look to finally unlock their successor to Eden Hazard.

The 21-year-old, who provided the cross for Romelu Lukaku's Club World Cup final opener, has made his positional future known to the Blues boss.

Hudson-Odoi's studious approach has opened the door to first-team opportunities under Tuchel, providing his services in both the front-three and at wing-back.

The Cobham graduate has enjoyed 45 appearances for Chelsea since the German took the helm at Stamford Bridge but, despite having established himself under Tuchel as a reliable team player, Hudson-Odoi must shift into fifth gear and fulfil his potential as a forward that once warranted Bayern Munich's interest.

Hudson-Odoi, who was subject to a £70 million bid from the Bundesliga champions in 2020 according to EuroSport, explained his eagerness to attune his skillset in accordance with Tuchel's tactical ideas.

"I’m never a person to question or say something or judge what the manager’s decision is," he told the Evening Standard.

"At the end of the day you want to be playing games, you want to be playing football. So if the manager has put you in a position where he thinks it is beneficial for the team and for yourself, I will play there no matter what.

“I am very humble to play in a position he tells me to play. I just try to give it my best every game. It doesn’t matter where he plays me, I will still give it my best."

However, Tuchel must ignore the youngster's accommodating message and prioritise the development of Hudson-Odoi into one of the Premier League's leading wingers.

The England youth international earned his stripes in Cobham as a trailblazing forward who often showed glimpses of achieving Eden Hazard's final blessing.

Hudson-Odoi made a habit of grabbing fixtures by the scruff of the neck and was spoken about in the same breath as Phil Foden and Jadon Sancho.

While the Chelsea youngster's willingness to learn a new role has been pivotal towards tying down a place in Tuchel's squad, amid intensified fears of an exit in the summer, the Blues boss must reward Hudson-Odoi's studious behaviour with a plan that moulds him into a starter in west London.

A plan that would, ideally, involve bringing in a new right wing-back in the summer to somewhat relieve the Cobham graduate of his duties in that role.

Follow our CareFree Chelsea trends writer Jake Stokes on Twitter to get involved in the discussion and give us your thoughts in the comments section below.Make sure you have subscribed to CareFree Chelsea on YouTube! The Fan Brands team, along with plenty of your football.london favourites, will be producing daily Chelsea content for you to enjoy, including match reactions, podcasts, football fun and interviews.

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