Chelsea boss Lampard insists Hudson-Odoi does NOT want transfer amid concerns over playing time
FRANK LAMPARD cooled speculation over Callum Hudson-Odoi wanting to leave Chelsea after being frustrated over his lack of game time.
The 19-year-old has played just 48 minutes in all competitions since the restart, spread across four sub appearances.
Winger Hudson-Odoi, who signed a new five-year deal worth £120,000-a- week ten months ago, will face fierce competition for places next season after the signings of Hakim Ziyech and Timo Werner.
Blues boss Lampard said: “I’ve spoken about Callum a lot, he needs to keep training at the highest level, which is what I’ve seen him doing.
“He’s a great talent and I want to see his potential come through.”
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Lampard’s lads need three points from their two remaining matches to secure a top-four finish.
It will be a remarkable achievement in his first season as boss having to combat a transfer ban, the sale of superstar Eden Hazard, the arrival of a bunch of rookies — and, of course, coronavirus.
Lamps said: “We lost the best player in the league in my opinion.
“Then teams around us invested. I never thought it would be plain sailing but we’ve got ourselves in a position where it’s in our hands.
“From there, how can we move forward as a team which looks upwards to bridge the gap?”
By that he means the huge gulf in points that exists between them and opponents Liverpool which currently stands at 30.
Lampard added: “It will be Liverpool’s day lifting the trophy, the guard of honour is a sign of respect that I’ve got no problem with.
“And if there’s a bit of the players standing there thinking, ‘I hope this is us in the next two or three years’ then I’m very happy for those feelings and it’s the way it should be.”
CHELSEA (likely): Kepa, Azpilicueta, Rudiger, Christensen, Alonso, Kovacic, Jorginho, Barkley, Willian, Giroud, Mount