Chelsea must be careful if they send Callum Hudson-Odoi on loan

Maurizio Sarri is finding virtually no time for Callum Hudson-Odoi, so the Chelsea winger is linked with a loan. It is a good idea if done properly.

Hudson-Odoi was one of Chelsea’s best players in preseason if not the best. But preseason is not the season and during the competitive fixtures Maurizio Sarri has found little use for the Englishman.

Hudson-Odoi is a star at youth level. But again, youth level is not professional level just as preseason is not the season. Stars at youth level failing to replicate against professionals is a tale as old as the sport.

So a loan is very much needed and in the cards for the young winger. The rumor, for now, is that any club in the Premier League outside of the top six may take him on loan (besides the ones with loanees already). Fans also frequently mention the Bundesliga being an ideal destination. Both leagues would almost certainly be a mistake for a Hudson-Odoi loan.

If it were the summer, by all means send Hudson-Odoi to the Premier League or Bundesliga. But there is already too much on the table in January. Few if any clubs that would realistically improve because of Hudson-Odoi would be in a position to actually trust an 18 year old with so little professional experience. So it would be highly likely that he would go on loan to one of those clubs, a manager would be sacked for facing relegation, and then the experienced guys become preferred to escape the drop.

Furthermore, why would these clubs want Hudson-Odoi in the first place? Yes, he is fantastic at the youth level but that means little when up against professionals. And Hudson-Odoi has so little professional experience to point to and say “this is what I can do”.

Compare this to Ethan Ampadu who does have that professional (and international) experience to point to. Ampadu could walk into those clubs because he has a history. Hudson-Odoi does not and a Premier League or Bundesliga loan would be far too ambitious for him at this point in his career. If anything, it would set him back.

Furthermore, a loan to the Championship or even 2. Bundesliga (since there is an obsession with German based loans since Andreas Christensen) for just six months would be vastly more ideal. If Hudson-Odoi is truly as good as advertised, he should have no problem walking into one of those lower division teams for a short loan.

That type of loan would allow him playing time and offer a more competitive environment than any youth match. Hudson-Odoi could actually build a portfolio in six months that he could then flip into actual playing time at Chelsea or the Premier League/Bundesliga loan everyone seems to dream about.

Just because a player can go somewhere on loan does not mean they should. Chelsea has messed up enough young players with over ambitious loans (see, Patrick Bamford and Josh McEachran). The Championship or 2. Bundesliga may not be the sexiest of leagues, but they would offer a much better platform for Hudson-Odoi presently. If he is as good as everyone thinks he is, in just six short months he can get that ambitious loan and be in a position to actually play and develop.