Thomas Tuchel has already identified ideal replacement for wantaway Callum Hudson-Odoi

Chelsea star Callum Hudson-Odoi is closing in on a much desired loan deal to the German club Bayer Leverkusen.

The 21-year-old has not played for the Blues this season and is desperate for game time to get back his form and fitness having suffered an Achilles injury at the tail end of last season.

Clubs like Southampton, Leicester and Newcastle were all reported to be interested in him - but the player wants to move to Germany, where the likes of Jadon Sancho and Jude Bellingham have all had successful stints.

The player is currently on wages of around £100,000-a-week and even though that would have put off some suitors, Chelsea are now willing to pay a part of that to help Leverkusen take him for the season.

Last season, the Achilles injury hampered his progress and now both Chelsea and the player understand that time away from each other will be in the interests of all parties.

Hudson-Odoi was on the bench for Chelsea’s 3-0 defeat to Leeds and even though he was asked to go for a warm-up, he never really made it into the game.

Chelsea already having a replacement for Odoi

Thomas Tuchel has already brought in Raheem Sterling, Kalidou Koulibaly and Marc Cucurella, but is knocking on the door of Barcelona star Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang.

According to broad reports in Spain and England, the former Arsenal star has already agreed personal terms.

He is keen on reuniting with Thomas Tuchel with whom he spent two glorious years and scored 79 goals in a little over 150 games together.

The Blues loaned out record signing Romelu Lukaku to Inter Milan and are in the market for goal scorer who will lead the time.