In the battle to persuade Callum Hudson-Odoi to stay at Chelsea, many of the club’s supporters have come to regard the winger’s father and brother as public enemies No.1 and No.2.

Hudson-Odoi’s dad, Bismark, and elder sibling, Bradley, are not just members of the family; they are the people responsible for advising the rising star over his next move. Of the two, Bismark is regarded as the agent, but Bradley is highly influential in proceedings, too.

It is believed the former first became listed as an FA-registered intermediary in 2017. Yet to put that qualification into context, it costs an initial fee of just £500 (not including VAT) and £250 to renew it on an annual basis.

With Callum having just over a year left on his contract, Chelsea have been desperate to agree fresh terms. Their first approach last summer was rejected and there hasn’t been much progress since then despite the last offer reaching £85,000 a week.

Sources suggest the 18-year-old’s family have proved difficult to negotiate with. There have been claims that requests to return phone calls have been ignored.

Naturally, Bismark and Bradley would have had a major say in Callum’s controversial decision to hand in a transfer request in January after Bayern Munich had a fourth bid for his services rejected.

The Bundesliga club remain confident that another attempt in the summer will succeed.

From those on the outside desperate to see Hudson-Odoi succeed at Chelsea, there is frustration, bewilderment and even resentment over the possibility of the club losing arguably their best academy talent since John Terry.

John Terry's career in pictures 14 show all John Terry's career in pictures 1/14 'Captain, leader, legend' We look back at John Terry's career. Alex Morton/Getty Images 2/14 1999 - Early beginnings Having joined as a youngster of 14 Terry made his debut on 28 October 1998 in a League Cup tie against Aston Villa. He would spend part of the 1999/2000 season on loan at Nottingham Forest but it wasn't long before Terry established himself in the Chelsea first team. Getty Images 3/14 2001 - Starting to make an impression The 2000/01 season was when Terry carved out a regular role at Chelsea, making 23 starts on his way to being voted player of the season. Getty Images 4/14 2004 - Captain fantastic Marcel Desailly's departure saw Terry take the Chelsea armband under new manager Jose Mourinho. It was to be the start of an outstanding relationship between the two that would lead to three league titles. 2004 Getty Images 5/14 2005 - Ending the 50 year wait Terry was the PFA Player of the Year as Chelsea won their first top flight crown since 1955, and just their second overall. 2005 ended with him in the Fifa World XI, reward for a remarkable run of form that was to continue into the following year, when Chelsea defended their title with a whopping 91 points. AFP/Getty Images 6/14 2006 - England captain On his promotion in place of David Beckham Steve McClaren said on Terry: "I'm certain I've got the right man in John Terry. I'm convinced he will prove to be one of the best captains England has ever had."



He was to last little over 18 months before being stripped of the armband by Fabio Capello amid allegations regarding his private life. Reinstated in March 2011 he lasted even less time on his second go, with the FA stripping him over allegations he had racially abused Anton Ferdinand. AFP/Getty Images 7/14 2008 - Heartbreak in Moscow Having overcome injury to make the Champions League final against Manchester United Terry put in a solid performance throughout normal time as the match ended 1-1. Then, with the chance to win the trophy for Chelsea, he slipped on his way to take his penalty. United would win the shootout 6-5. 2008 Getty Images 8/14 2010: Champion again Under Carlo Ancelotti Chelsea claimed their third title under Terry's leadership, and he was to make it a double by captaining the side to an FA Cup final win over Portsmouth. 2010 Getty Images 9/14 2012: European glory at last He may not have been able to play in the final but Terry did make himself the centre of attention in the Allianz Arena, sprinting on to the pitch in full kit (including shinpads) after Didier Drogba's winning penalty. It was to be the decision that spawned a thousand memes. AFP/Getty Images 10/14 2015: Back to his best Under Rafa Benitez in 2013 his Chelsea career seemed over, with the interim manager frequently leaving Terry out. But the return of Mourinho reinvigorated the club captain, who was to become only the second outfield player to play every minute in a title-winning side. 2015 Getty Images 11/14 2016: Moving on? Guus Hiddink had made clear that he thought Chelsea ought to offer Terry a new contract. The hierarchy disagreed. And so, in shock circumstances, the career of one of the club's greatest-ever players appeared to have entered its final months... Mike Hewitt/Getty Images 12/14 2016: Or staying put? Ahead of their final match of the season, Chelsea confirmed that they had offered their captain a new one-year extension . Terry's Chelsea future remains in his hands. (BEN STANSALL/AFP/Getty Images) 13/14 2016: Done deal! The Chelsea captain would indeed put pen to paper and signed a new one-year deal with the club. This content is subject to copyright. 14/14 2017: Captain moving on Antonio Conte's arrival as coach saw Terry's playing time limited for the 2016-17 season despite a switch to a three-man central defence, and the club confirmed in mid-april that their captain would be leaving Stamford Bridge at the end of the campaign AFP/Getty Images 1/14 'Captain, leader, legend' We look back at John Terry's career. Alex Morton/Getty Images 2/14 1999 - Early beginnings Having joined as a youngster of 14 Terry made his debut on 28 October 1998 in a League Cup tie against Aston Villa. He would spend part of the 1999/2000 season on loan at Nottingham Forest but it wasn't long before Terry established himself in the Chelsea first team. Getty Images 3/14 2001 - Starting to make an impression The 2000/01 season was when Terry carved out a regular role at Chelsea, making 23 starts on his way to being voted player of the season. Getty Images 4/14 2004 - Captain fantastic Marcel Desailly's departure saw Terry take the Chelsea armband under new manager Jose Mourinho. It was to be the start of an outstanding relationship between the two that would lead to three league titles. 2004 Getty Images 5/14 2005 - Ending the 50 year wait Terry was the PFA Player of the Year as Chelsea won their first top flight crown since 1955, and just their second overall. 2005 ended with him in the Fifa World XI, reward for a remarkable run of form that was to continue into the following year, when Chelsea defended their title with a whopping 91 points. AFP/Getty Images 6/14 2006 - England captain On his promotion in place of David Beckham Steve McClaren said on Terry: "I'm certain I've got the right man in John Terry. I'm convinced he will prove to be one of the best captains England has ever had."



He was to last little over 18 months before being stripped of the armband by Fabio Capello amid allegations regarding his private life. Reinstated in March 2011 he lasted even less time on his second go, with the FA stripping him over allegations he had racially abused Anton Ferdinand. AFP/Getty Images 7/14 2008 - Heartbreak in Moscow Having overcome injury to make the Champions League final against Manchester United Terry put in a solid performance throughout normal time as the match ended 1-1. Then, with the chance to win the trophy for Chelsea, he slipped on his way to take his penalty. United would win the shootout 6-5. 2008 Getty Images 8/14 2010: Champion again Under Carlo Ancelotti Chelsea claimed their third title under Terry's leadership, and he was to make it a double by captaining the side to an FA Cup final win over Portsmouth. 2010 Getty Images 9/14 2012: European glory at last He may not have been able to play in the final but Terry did make himself the centre of attention in the Allianz Arena, sprinting on to the pitch in full kit (including shinpads) after Didier Drogba's winning penalty. It was to be the decision that spawned a thousand memes. AFP/Getty Images 10/14 2015: Back to his best Under Rafa Benitez in 2013 his Chelsea career seemed over, with the interim manager frequently leaving Terry out. But the return of Mourinho reinvigorated the club captain, who was to become only the second outfield player to play every minute in a title-winning side. 2015 Getty Images 11/14 2016: Moving on? Guus Hiddink had made clear that he thought Chelsea ought to offer Terry a new contract. The hierarchy disagreed. And so, in shock circumstances, the career of one of the club's greatest-ever players appeared to have entered its final months... Mike Hewitt/Getty Images 12/14 2016: Or staying put? Ahead of their final match of the season, Chelsea confirmed that they had offered their captain a new one-year extension . Terry's Chelsea future remains in his hands. (BEN STANSALL/AFP/Getty Images) 13/14 2016: Done deal! The Chelsea captain would indeed put pen to paper and signed a new one-year deal with the club. This content is subject to copyright. 14/14 2017: Captain moving on Antonio Conte's arrival as coach saw Terry's playing time limited for the 2016-17 season despite a switch to a three-man central defence, and the club confirmed in mid-april that their captain would be leaving Stamford Bridge at the end of the campaign AFP/Getty Images

That has inevitably led to Bismark and Bradley coming under negative scrutiny, but no one should doubt the positive influence the pair have had on the now England international’s career.

Unlike most agents, they have been players themselves — Bismark represented Ghana, while Bradley has forged a career playing for a number of non-League clubs in this country having started out in Fulham’s academy.

It was because of their love of the game that Callum, who joined Chelsea at Under-8 level, became a footballer at the club in the first place.

Fighting for time Premier League minutes Kante : 2,680

Hazard: 2,333

Willian: 1,769

Pedro: 1,487

Barkley: 1,040

Hudson-Odoi: 119

“I think growing up in a family full of footballers, they inspire you,” Callum said. “You watch them, you look up to them and they’re your idols. Every time you see them, they’re kicking a football and you want to do what they’re doing.

“So when I saw them playing football in the park or just watching football, it made me want to do what they were doing. I think they’ve inspired me all the way to be who I am today.”

As family members, Bismark and Bradley would feel protective as far as Callum’s career is concerned. It is a mystery to many, let alone these two, why the Chelsea trainee has yet to start a Premier League fixture this term.

A lack of game time, rather than the desire for a big salary, has been the main factor in negotiations not being resolved thus far.

The fact that England coach Gareth Southgate handed Hudson-Odoi his first start against Montenegro has left Chelsea manager Maurizio Sarri with some explaining to do ahead of Sunday’s trip to Cardiff.

It will make the team sheet even more noteworthy when it is published, though Sarri is bound to argue that Eden Hazard, Pedro and Willian are hard to drop.

But the manner in which Hudson-Odoi dribbled past opponents for England has led many to conclude the winger is ready for the highest level now. These skills were developed under Bismark when he was growing up in Colliers Wood.

Callum added: “Doing one-on-ones with him kept helping me to improve my game to where I am today.”

Keeping him is a fight Chelsea cannot afford to lose as they continue their quest to qualify for the Champions League.