Chelsea wonderkid Hudson-Odoi reluctant to sign new contract

The England Under-17 World Cup winner has played just 35 minutes of senior football this season and could be loaned out in January

youngster Callum Hudson-Odoi is reluctant to renew his contract with the Stamford Bridge outfit having struggled to break into Maurizio Sarri's side.

The 18-year-old impressed for the Blues during pre-season, with coach and Chelsea legend Gianfranco Zola pivotal in ensuring Hudson-Odoi was offered a new five-year deal ahead of the new campaign.

But Goal understands that the Under-17 World Cup winner remains unsure as to whether to commit to Chelsea having made just two substitute appearances thus far under Sarri.

The former boss' decision to make few changes in either the or may have helped the west London outfit progress, but it has limited opportunities for Hudson-Odoi to make an impact.

Chelsea remain hopeful that Hudson-Odoi can be convinced to remain with the 2012 winners as he closes on the final 18 months of his current contract.

He has long been on the radar of Barcelona, Real Madrid, Juventus and Villarreal, and with and having also revealed their interest of late, Hudson-Odoi is unlikely to be short of options should he look for pastures new.

The progress of Jadon Sancho - who played alongside Hudson-Odoi in that Under-17 World Cup win - at has seen him become a senior England international at just 18, with Gareth Southgate and the Football Association encouraging other youngsters to move abroad in pursuit of more minutes.

Hudson-Odoi is certainly open to taking that route, though Chelsea would be more open to allowing him to leave on loan in January rather than cash in before his contract runs down.

Fellow academy graduate Ethan Ampadu is another who has struggled to break into the first team under Sarri, and despite having signed a five-year deal of his own in September, is likely to be loaned out in January.

His future will likely depend on whether Gary Cahill or Andreas Christensen depart in the winter window, with Derby County and Aston Villa among those keen on Wales international Ampadu.