As Hudson-Odoi edges towards £35M move to Bayern, fears grow that big clubs’ academies are failing to offer talented kids a real route to their first teams

Mirror Sport understands there is growing discontent within the youth ranks with several parents concerned about the message that Hudson-Odoi’s potential sale sends out to their kids.

Several parents back the 18-year-old’s insistence that he wants out and are themselves considering stalling on long-term contracts which could lock their youngsters into situations they too feel frustrated with.

Confirming Bayern’s pursuit of Hudson-Odoi, sporting director Hasan Salihamidzic said: “He’s a very interesting player whom we absolutely want to sign. He has qualities that fit our game – his dribbling, he’s fast and has a good move to goal.”

But Marcos Alonso, who started with Hudson-Odoi in Tuesday’s first leg League Cup semi-final defeat to Spurs, said: “We are Chelsea, one of the great teams. The Premier League is I think the most competitive league in the world, so I don’t see why someone would go to Bayern.

“Callum is a good player but very young. He needs to have patience, to be hungry, and fight for a place in this team.”

Chelsea firmly believe that the pathway to the first team remains open for the players from their academy.

The Blues are still trying to persuade Hudson-Odoi to sign a lucrative new five-year deal, but fear there is nothing they can do if the teenager’s head has been turned by an even bigger offer from Bayern.

Chelsea maintain the German giants’ pursuit is proof of their academy’s success at producing top players. But some parents are unconvinced. They point to the fact that the Blues signed

18-year-old Ethan Ampadu from Exeter at 16 and Andreas Christensen – in his second season with the first team – from Brondby as a 15-year-old. The insistence from Chelsea boss Maurizio Sarri that Hudson-Odoi would not go out on loan after his impressive pre-season, only for the winger to be denied a start until the end of November in the Europa League, has also been noted.

There is a belief that while the likes of Jadon Sancho, Reiss Nelson and Brahim Diaz have forced their way out of their Premier League clubs to join Dortmund, Hoffenheim and Real Madrid respectively, the majority of the Blues’ rising stars go out on loan to the Championship and do not get the chance to realise their potential.

And the £58m signing of Christian Pulisic from Dortmund, kept out of the Bundesliga side by Sancho, is also seen as a slap in the face for the Blues’ kids. But

Chelsea No.2 Gianfranco

Zola last week said Hudson-Odoi could become the standard bearer for their rising stars – if he stays. He said: “He has to realise the coach likes to work

with young players and improve them day by day. What Dortmund did for Sancho, for Callum it could be here. Here he can improve and we can make him better.”