Chelsea owner Todd Boehly has reportedly pleaded with Callum Hudson-Odoi not to leave the club permanently this summer.
The 21-year-old is alleged to have informed the Blues that he wants to seek pastures new after struggling for regular game time under Thomas Tuchel over the past 18 months.
Hudson-Odoi missed a good chunk of the 2021-22 season through injury, but he still managed three goals and six assists from 28 appearances in all tournaments when fit.
The England international started just 11 games in the Premier League, though, and competition for attacking spots has heightened with the addition of Raheem Sterling.
Mason Mount, Hakim Ziyech and Christian Pulisic also appear to be ahead of Hudson-Odoi in the pecking order, leading to the Englishman's desire to move on.
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Whether Chelsea are willing to sanction a loan or permanent exit remains to be seen, but the Evening Standard claims that Boehly is determined not to lose the youngster for good.
The report adds that Boehly will only allow Hudson-Odoi to leave on loan, as the Blues owner still regards the attacker as an important part of the club's future.
As a result, Chelsea are not prepared to include any option-to-buy clauses in a loan deal for Hudson-Odoi, but the Blues will happily contribute towards his weekly £150k salary.
The likes of Borussia Dortmund, Southampton, Newcastle United and Leicester City are all said to be in the race to sign Hudson-Odoi, who missed the Under-21 team's 3-0 Premier League 2 loss to Fulham on Monday as he seeks to force an exit.
Chelsea's capital counterparts Arsenal are also rumoured to be interested in a deal for the attacker, but the Blues may be reluctant to sell to a direct rival.
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Hudson-Odoi has totalled 16 goals and 22 assists in 126 outings for Chelsea in all competitions since coming through their youth academy but is still waiting for his first senior minutes of the 2022-23 season.
The Englishman was not involved in the 1-0 win over Everton on the opening weekend of the Premier League season but made the bench for Sunday's 2-2 draw with Tottenham Hotspur.
Chelsea have already let Timo Werner re-sign for RB Leipzig on a permanent deal this summer, while Romelu Lukaku is back at Inter Milan on a season-long loan.
The futures of Pulisic and Ziyech are also up in the air, with both men said to be targets of Man United, while the former is also wanted by Newcastle alongside Hudson-Odoi.
Chelsea will aim to continue their unbeaten start to the new Premier League season when they travel to Elland Road to face Leeds United on Sunday afternoon.
Ben Knapton
