One of Chelsea’s main transfer targets during the January transfer window was Manchester United starlet Alejandro Garnacho.
The Argentinian emerged as a shock target for the Blues a few weeks ago, as Enzo Maresca was aiming to add yet more players to his already well-stocked attacking department.
Sadly, a move didn’t quite happen…
Chelsea’s failed move for Alejandro Garnacho
It was reported towards the final week of the transfer window that Chelsea had made a formal bid to sign Garnacho in an attempt to bolster their forward line.
However, as we know, he remained at Old Trafford, although Fabrizio Romano did report on the penultimate day of the window that the Blues could perhaps make a last-gasp bid for the winger.
Maresca already has the likes of Jadon Sancho, João Félix, Cole Palmer, Nicolas Jackson and Noni Madueke as options in the final third. This embarrassment of riches was clearly not stopping the manager from making a late move to bring someone else in but, considering Felix ended up leaving on loan, perhaps another body would have been beneficial.
That said, the Stamford Bridge side may have sold their answer to Garnacho back in 2023…
Chelsea’s own Garnacho was sold by Boehly
A certain Callum Hudson-Odoi swapped London for Nottingham, departing for a ridiculously low transfer fee in the process two years ago.
The winger burst onto the scene during the 2018/19 campaign for Chelsea, scoring four goals in nine Europa League games as the club defeated Arsenal to win the competition.
The next couple of seasons saw the talented winger become an important part of the squad, playing seven times as the Blues won their second Champions League crown in 2021, although he didn’t make it onto the pitch in the final.
The following season saw injury problems hamper his impact and he was then sent on loan to Bayer Leverkusen for the 2022/23 campaign, making just 21 appearances for the German side.
Hudson-Odoi then moved to Nottingham Forest for a fee of just £5m in the summer of 2023. A far cry from the numbers that were being discussed just a few years prior amid his stunning impact as a teenager.
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Hudson-Odoi’s stats in the PL for Forest (2024/25) |
|
|---|---|
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Goals |
3 |
|
Assists |
2 |
|
Key passes per game |
1.8 |
|
Big chances created |
3 |
|
Shots per game |
1.4 |
|
Successful dribbles per game |
1.4 |
|
Via Sofascore |
|
A tally of eight Premier League goals last term meant the City Ground outfit secured a wonderful return on their investment. This season, the 24-year-old has registered five goal-contributions for the club as Forest have been superb all term, reaching third in the league table.
Hudson-Odoi has also created three big chances and has succeeded with 68% of his dribble attempts, proving his effectiveness in the final third for the club. In short, his dazzling wing play is certainly reminiscent of the aforementioned Garnacho.
These impressive displays also mean that the former Chelsea gem has increased his market valuation. According to Transfemarkt, Hudson-Odoi is now currently worth £20m which is a solid rise on the initial £5m fee they paid to sign him from the Blues just 18 months ago.
This works out as a staggering 300% rise in value since arriving at the City Ground, thus ensuring the club has hit the jackpot on the 24-year-old Englishman.
Chelsea, on the other hand, must be rueing the decision to sell him for such a low fee.
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