Report: Chelsea reject fourth Bayern Munich bid for Callum Hudson-Odoi (UPDATED)

According to a report by the Evening Standard, Chelsea have finally rejected Bayern Munich’s £35m (€39m) bid for English youngster Callum Hudson-Odoi. The proposal, which was said to have met Chelsea’s original asking price, seems to have been unable to convince the Blues to part with the player. Despite this, the paper reports that Bayern remain undeterred.

Chelsea are apparently hoping to convince Hudson-Odoi to sign a new contract by playing him regularly for the rest of the season. The Blues are also angered by Bayern sporting director Hasan Salihamidzic’s comments in an interview with Sport Bild (excerpted; cf. Bild), where he confirmed the club’s interest in the youngster:

We want to sign the player. I’m fully convinced of his abilities. We are in constant contact with Chelsea.

However, that is neither here nor there. FIFA states that a buying club needs to only inform a selling club of its interest in a player before entering into negotiations, as opposed to Premier League rules which are much more strict. This is likely why Chelsea’s empty threats of reporting Bayern to FIFA have likely not come into fruition.

Right now, it seems very unlikely that this transfer will conclude in this window. Chelsea seem adamant in keeping their player (who is under contract until 2020), while Bayern can only wait until next summer at the latest. It remains to be seen how things will go, given Brazzo’s clear interest in signing this young talent, but for now, Hudson-Odoi remains a Chelsea FC player.

Update:

According to Max Bielefeld of Sky Germany, Chelsea made another contract offer for Callum Hudson-Odoi, which the player rejected. The player has asked the Blues to let him leave and has assured Bayern Munich that he will not renew his contract. Chelsea, meanwhile, do not want to let him go in the winter.