2J52JC0 NOTTINGHAM, UK. APR 18TH Steve Cooper, Nottingham Forest head coach during the Sky Bet Championship match between Nottingham Forest and West Bromwich Albion at the City Ground, Nottingham on Monday 18th April 2022. (Credit: Jon Hobley | MI News) Credit: MI News & Sport /Alamy Live News
Nottingham Forest in pole position to sign ‘special’ Chelsea player, he’s ‘like Eden Hazard’
Nottingham Forest are now in pole position to complete the signing of Chelsea forward Callum Hudson-Odoi. The Reds have seemingly moved to the front of the queue after Fulham and Everton backed off.
According to TEAMtalk, the Reds are now the best-placed team to sign Hudson-Odoi. He’s set to leave Stamford Bridge this summer and hasn’t even spoken with Mauricio Pochettino yet.
It proved a frustrating time of things for Hudson-Odoi during 2022/23. He went on loan to the Bundesliga with Bayer Leverkusen but has only started seven games, scoring once and claiming one assist.
His only strike of the campaign came in a Champions League draw against Atletico Madrid. Given his form during the season, it seems highly unlikely that Xabi Alonso will consider another move for the 22-year-old.
Forest head coach Steve Cooper knows all about the qualities of Hudson-Odoi. He oversaw some great form by the youngster in the England under-17 ranks. On that stage, he scored five goals in 22 appearances.
The 43-year-old is keen to add some creativity to his ranks this summer. Most of Forest’s creative spark came from Morgan Gibbs-White during 2022/23 and Cooper will want to ease the burden on him.
Forest are keen to sign another creative spark before the transfer window closes. Anthony Elanga has arrived and adding Hudson-Odoi as well would give Forest some real firepower to their attack.
Forest in pole position to sign Hudson-Odoi
This could be a pretty decent signing for the Reds to make. It’s claimed that a fee of £10 million could be enough to land him and Tony Cascarino has previously likened the player to Eden Hazard.
Frank Lampard was also a huge fan of the player. He called him ‘special’ when he was overseeing the senior ranks at Chelsea.
The player earns £120,000-a-week at Stamford Bridge and it seems very unlikely that Pochettino will come in and hand him a contract extension, given that he’s yet to talk to him since he arrived at the club.
Hudson-Odoi’s wages are unlikely to be an issue, however. It’s been claimed previously that he’s willing to take a huge drop in salary in order to instigate a move away from Stamford Bridge.
Forest would be taking a risk by signing Hudson-Odoi. His form has dropped off in recent years and perhaps a reunion with Cooper is the best thing for him right now.
