Callum Hudson-Odoi's £200K per week Chelsea contract - justified or ridiculous?

According to various reports, Callum Hudson-Odoi is to sign a new five-year contract to stay at Chelsea worth a reported £200,000 per week. Is this a justified move by Chelsea with his value set to soar during that period, or is this simply ridiculous?

Without question it’s made everyone sit up and take notice because of the fact that Chelsea would agree to such a figure for someone so young. We all knew that Bayern Munich attempted to sign him last season and had reportedly offered £40m which was rejected by Chelsea, that was because he is believed to be the natural successor to Eden Hazard within two or three seasons. They have high hopes in Hudson-Odoi but to agree a contract for that amount this early in his career??

With any big signing for the football club there is an element of risk involved. You hope that the player will come in and fit in first and foremost, then to develop while they are here whilst proving to have a positive impact around the squad and on the football pitch. You have decided to invest in them personally in the hope that they can deliver what is needed.

In some cases they are brought in for an average fee, on average wages with a promise of being rewarded based on their overall performances. However, there are those who are different, who are considered with match-winners or those who are worth their weight in gold for what they bring to the team. Those who are paid the big bucks!

With someone from your own Academy, the situation is different if you think about it. They come through the ranks and if they prove themselves in training every day they are rewarded with the opportunity to train with the first-team to then hopefully develop and eventually become part of that group.

If, thinking of the likes of Ruben Loftus-Cheek, you are given the opportunity to go out on loan and given first-team experience on a regular basis and respond to that in a positive manner whilst demonstrating that you are ready to be given the opportunity at Chelsea, then look what happens. As the player shows progress and continues to grow as a footballer, they are given improved contracts - maybe not huge but average until they get to the point where RLC is now - to then be awarded with a big contract because let’s face it, they have earned it by the time that they become an important part of our first-team.

This is why it’s so unheard of to offer CHO the contract that Chelsea are reportedly doing. He has only really featured for Chelsea last season when Bayern Munich came calling, despite his immense talent. He has never had any other experience of first-team football on loan. You have to wonder if he would have been fast tracked as he has been if they never showed an interest. I wonder if CHO would have been earmarked to spend this season out on loan in the Championship first, then the Premier League next season to give him the first-team experience he needs?

It’s clear that Chelsea and Frank Lampard are doing everything they can to keep him here and Frank has spoken in his press conferences of the same. Would be or anyone ever expect for that amount of money? The problem is that there will be immense pressure on him to deliver almost straight away due to his wages alone. The possibility of giving him time to adjust to playing in the Premier League week-in, week out has gone and he will be expected to be up there with the very best who earn similar wages.

There will be an argument that he is too young and it’s too much too soon so it’s important that he has the right people around him, surrounds himself with those who will keep him grounded and that he has the right attitude in these next couple of seasons which are now massive for him.

Chelsea have agreed to pay him a massive amount of money in order for him to be here for the next five-years. Without doubt, if his attitude during that time remains right, if he continues to focus on his game to develop consistently over time, he will be worth every single penny, the mind boggles at just how much he could be potentially worth in three or four seasons.

So, I am asking you the Chelsea fan or football fan for that matter, is the £200,000 per week contract for the next five-years justified or ridiculous?

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