Chelsea transfer news: Frank Lampard provides update on Callum Hudson-Odoi contract negotiations and injury
The Blues boss also revealed there are encouraging signs N’Golo Kante will return from injury next week
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Your support makes all the difference.Frank Lampard insists Callum Hudson-Odoi is “ahead of schedule” in his recovery from an Achilles injury and has revealed talks have gone “very well” recently over a new contract.
The Blues youngster made an impact under Maurizio Sarri last season but with one year remaining on his contract, Bayern Munich have pushed hard to acquire the England international.
Lampard insists the 18-year-old is progressing well from the serious injury suffered against Burnley with the likelihood of an earlier-than-expected return.
“He’s not training with us yet but the injury is coming on ahead of schedule,” Lampard told the club website. “There will be a period for Callum where his injury is fine but then he needs to get fit to play in the team because it’s going to be very demanding with the way I want to play from front to back.
“He’s not far away and I know he’s done everything throughout the summer with our medical team to get back quickly.
“If he had agreed then that would mean he had signed and we’re not quite there yet but it’s very clear that the club are working towards that. I think talks have moved on very well in the last week or two, hence why the headlines came out, but it’s not done yet.
“The one thing that’s clear for me is I know I want to keep him here and the club wants to keep him because he’s a player we cherish. He’s come through our Academy, he’s the present and the future of this club so we’re doing everything we can to get there.”
Meanwhile N’Golo Kante is closing in on a return to action, with Lampard optimistic he will have the French midfielder at his disposal soon.
“The signs are good,” Lampard revealed. “It was certainly the right decision for him to come home early from Japan and get the treatment he had.
“He’s dipped into training with us over the last couple of days and I expect him to be training through this week to the point that he can be fully involved at the start of next week. There’s a lot more he needs to do physically without us but we’re hopeful.
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