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According to a report by Bild (paywalled), Bayern Munich have asked club doctor Hans-Wilhelm Müller-Wohfahrt to make an assessment of Chelsea youngster Callum Hudson-Odoi. The winger, who suffered a terrible Achilles tendon injury last month, is still on the Bavarians’ radar.
According to the report, the same thing was done with Lucas Hernandez. The Atletico Madrid defender was announced for a fee of €80m, despite having known issues with his knee. It turned out that after an examination by Bayern, he required surgery, which is why the Frenchman’s transfer had to be announced immediately. It was a move that effectively ended his tenure at the Colchoneros several months early, but it may have saved his career.
Dr. Müller-Wohlfahrt is trusted by the bosses, and he will assess the extent of Hudson-Odoi’s injury and his recovery process. If the doctor gives the green light, then the club will approach Chelsea with a new offer in the summer.
This lines up with a recent report from The Sun (yes, yes, we know, but The Sun has been reliable regarding this particular transfer saga so we may also cite them as a source). The Sun claims that Hudson-Odoi’s recovery is proceeding faster than expected, and he could make a return to training in time for the preseason. According to Bild, Bayern and the player are in agreement over the transfer, and the fee being discussed is around €25m. This is down from the original bid, mainly due to the seriousness of the young Englishman’s injury.
An Achilles injury really is extremely serious, so it’s understandable that the bosses are being cautious here. However, Hudson-Odoi is extremely young, and if reports of his expedited recovery are true, then he may well return to football none the worse for wear.
Before his injury, Hudson-Odoi had been one of Bayern’s top targets for the summer. The injury is a setback, but it may not be the deal-breaker many once thought it was. If Bayern can get the right price, then there’s absolutely no reason to not go after him. Replacing Arjen Robben and Franck Ribery is a must.