Chelsea’s Callum Hudson-Odoi has told the club’s hierarchy that he wants to leave and has been granted his request, putting Newcastle and Leicester on alert.
Hudon-Odoi’s agents have been given permission to speak to potential suitors, according to Sky Sports.
Newcastle are still looking for firepower to help them in the new season with an attacking midfielder/winger and a striker on Eddie Howe‘s shopping list. Howe has vowed that Newcastle “We’ll never stop until the window closes” in his pursuit of improving the squad.
The England winger has been linked with Newcastle recently (along with any other living forward with anything but a nailed-on future), but it is also believed that Juventus and Borussia Dortmund have joined Newcastle and Leicester in their appreciation of the winger.
If Newcastle are serious about the move they may need to act fast to head off the competition. That being said, were Leicester to beat Newcastle to the punch, that could grease the wheels for James Maddison to make the move to Tyneside, so Hudson-Odoi going to Leicester could prove positive for Newcastle.
On paper, a move for the Chelsea man would be a much easier deal to get done with the player already willing to leave and Chelsea willing to sell, and with time running out before the window slams shut, Newcastle need to start making serious moves and that may mean moving away from their hardball stance when it comes to transfer fees.