Conte requested Hudson-Odoi for Napoli after Chelsea spell
Antonio Conte specifically requested Nottingham Forest winger Callum Hudson-Odoi for Napoli, having worked with him at Chelsea.
It is no secret that the Partenopei are trying to reinforce the flanks after selling Khvicha Kvaratskhelia to Paris Saint-Germain in January with no real replacement.
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Now that they are the reigning Champions of Italy and in the Champions League, they need more strength in depth.
Conte is fully involved in the transfer strategy and has made a list for President Aurelio De Laurentiis, including Hudson-Odoi, as per Sportitalia reporter Michele Criscitiello.
Hudson-Odoi not new to Serie A interest
NOTTINGHAM, ENGLAND – MARCH 03: Nuno Espirito Santo, Manager of Nottingham Forest, celebrates with Callum Hudson-Odoi of Nottingham Forest following the team's victory in the penalty shoot out during the Emirates FA Cup Fifth Round match between Nottingham Forest and Ipswich Town at City Ground on March 03, 2025 in Nottingham, England. (Photo by)
The 24-year-old has three senior caps for England and can play in a variety of roles, mainly the left wing, but also the right or in a deeper position if required.
He made 36 competitive appearances for Nottingham Forest this season, contributing five goals and three assists.
epa12129564 SSC Napoli�s coach Antonio Conte celebrates winning the 2024/2025 Serie A title after the Italian Serie A soccer match between SSC Napoli and Cagliari Calcio, in Naples, Italy, 23 May 2025. SSC Napoli won their fourth league title. EPA-EFE/CIRO FUSCO
A product of the Chelsea youth academy, Hudson-Odoi already impressed Conte when he was still a very young player during his tenure and was given four appearances in 2017-18.
There was a loan at Bayer Leverkusen and sale to Nottingham Forest in 2023 for €3.5m.
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In the 2023-24 title-winning season, he showed just how much he likes to get forward by scoring ten goals and completing 15 assists. Tapping into numbers like that from a full-back is the dream of every club. Contract expires: Summer 2027 It has been a while since Chilwell was a regular Premier League starter. The last time he started more than 20 times in a Premier League season was 2020-21, and he started just once during his half-season loan at Crystal Palace. But he is an England international who, at the age of just 28, has only two years left on his Chelsea contract, meaning financially he could be an appealing option. Chilwell has a big salary, which might have stopped moves in the past. Contract at Wolves expired: Summer 2026 Manchester City's new left-back is a rare talent, even if his defending can sometimes drive his coaches to distraction. His Premier League experience and ability to impact games as an attacking full-back would have been attractive to City, as was his contractual situation at previous club Wolves. He had just a year remaining on his deal, plus a further year's option, which helped keep his transfer fee down to a relatively low £31.2m. Contract expires: Summer 2027 Zubimendi is an Antiguoko alumnus. This is the same grassroots club where Xabi Alonso and Mikel Arteta fine-tuned their own skills. Zubimendi was a European Championship winner with Spain last summer and has played 236 games for Real Sociedad. At 26, he is now entering the perfect point in his career for his resourcefulness in the middle of the pitch to be extracted by a top European side challenging for major honours. Last summer, he did not want to leave his hometown of San Sebastian even when Liverpool came calling but this year, Arsenal have shown interest. The Athletic has reported that Arsenal regard the move as done and signed. Advertisement Contract expires: Summer 2025 At the age of 24 and entering theoretically the peak period of his career after four successive years at Lille, the Manchester United academy product found himself a free agent this summer. No wonder, then, that clubs were alerted to the prospect of a bargain deal for the England international. Marseille have announced they have reached an agreement in principle for him to join. Contract expires: Summer 2025 At 30, the Croatian has more 254 Serie A appearances, 52 goals and 29 assists, so his status as a free agent is certain to mean interest from clubs in the market for an experienced midfielder without having to pay a transfer fee. He might not be a top star at a bigger club, but he might well be a useful member of the squad. Contract expires: Summer 2025 Doucoure is a passionate midfielder who can chip in with the odd goal. He will be available on a free transfer this summer once his contract expires at the end of June. Everton did offer him a new contract. What makes Doucoure a sound move for a club in the market for a central midfielder? His versatility. The 32-year-old can play in a more advanced midfield role or further back as a No 6. You will remember him celebrating in front of Liverpool fans after James Tarkowski's last-minute equaliser for Everton at Goodison Park in February. Whoever he plays for next will get his whole heart. Contract expires: Summer 2028 The 21-year-old has lots of talent and has spent the second half of the season on loan at Borussia Dortmund. But The Athletic has reported that long-term, Dortmund have cooled their interest in making his loan move permanent or extending it. He is in their squad for the Club World Cup, which might give him an opportunity to impress there. Advertisement Chelsea will listen to offers from other clubs but the level of interest might well depend on them lowering their asking price, which in February stood at £40m. Contract expires: Summer 2025 He might not possess the athletic ability he once did, hence his departure from Manchester United, but a player with his technical ability available on a free transfer is certain to have suitors. The Denmark international is set to extend his career despite now being 33, having made 23 appearances for United last season, but just 11 starts. Contract at Milan expired: Summer 2030 Reijnders recorded 15 goals across all competitions for Milan last season, unsettling teams with his runs into space and ball-carrying. When played in defensive midfield, he set the tone with his passing, all of which convinced Manchester City to pay an initial £46.6m ($62.9m) fee plus potential add-ons for his services. Reijnders is a necessary addition as City's midfield undergoes a massive change after Ilkay Gundogan and Mateo Kovacic struggled, particularly in transition, without Rodri's protective shield behind them. If his goals help fill the Kevin De Bruyne-sized hole in City's squad, that's a bonus. Contract expires: Summer 2027 Wirtz has a beautiful footballing mind, capable of understanding opposition structures early in matches and adequately tailoring his positioning to cause damage. Few players in Europe have his ability to comprehend space and relentlessly drag defenders into zones they don't want to enter, creating opportunities for his team-mates. His in-possession attributes include incisive passes, brilliant dribbling and the ability to play across the frontline. Last season's tally of eight non-penalty goals and 12 assists speaks for itself. One can see why Liverpool are set to spend €136.3mi, with €117.5m due upfront and a further €18.8m in potential add-ons, on the 22-year-old. Contract expires: Summer 2027 With his contract at Nottingham Forest due to expire in two years, this is the summer when the club might look to either extend his deal or cash in before his value begins to drop rapidly. However, Forest believe they are operating comfortably within PSR (profit and sustainability rules) limits this summer, and therefore might not need to sell. Advertisement Having proven himself as a game changer with 17 goals and 26 assists in the Premier League during three seasons at the City Ground, he would not be short of interest. Contract expires: Summer 2027 Simons was a child prodigy with a huge online following since he was a teenager. He is still only 22 and has played ball in four different countries. Simons was born in Amsterdam but joined La Masia, Barcelona's academy, before he left to join Paris Saint-Germain in 2022. Since then he has also featured for PSV and his current club RB Leipzig. In 135 senior appearances for PSV, PSG and Leipzig combined he has scored 43 goals and contributed 34 assists. Simons, capped 28 times by the Netherlands, is well established but always hungry to further that, which is why he could be open to another adventure. The Athletic reported on Tuesday that he has told RB Leipzig he wants to move on this summer. Contract at River Plate expired: Summer 2026 Mastantuono became River Plate's third youngest player in history when he made his debut aged 16 in January 2024. Already a fully fledged Argentina international too — and the youngest player to ever play for the national team — the 17-year-old is well-versed when it comes to history-making. As shown in the graphic below, Mastantuono is often in a hurry to make something happen when he receives the ball. And while you may be getting excited about this prodigious talent, Real Madrid have already cast out that big, attractive net of theirs and signed him. Mastantuono is a name you will be hearing more of in the seasons to come. Contract expires: 2026 Sometimes you just need half a season in the Midlands to remind everyone how brilliant you are. For Asensio, that worked a treat as he became one of Aston Villa's best players when joining them for six months on loan from PSG. This meant the Spain international missed out being part of the PSG team that won the Champions League in Munich. Advertisement But crucially, during his time at Villa Park, he re-established himself and proved he still has a lot to give. A lot of clubs will have taken note. Contract at Lyon expired: 2027 The rising wave of optimism and wonder around Cherki hit its crescendo in 2024-25 as he recorded 12 goals and 20 assists in 44 matches for Lyon. Audacious close control, dazzling trickery and intelligent passing, with stunning goals as the cherry on top, attracted attention, not least from Manchester City who signed him for €36.5m (£30.9m, $41.7m). Those qualities, if combined with consistency, will quell any concerns about his adaptability to the Premier League and the need to fine-tune his out-of-possession attributes. Contract expires: Summer 2031 Who might be the next club to take on the Joao Felix project? Since his breakout season at Benfica and a €126m move to Atletico Madrid in 2019, he has been a footnote at multiple clubs including Barcelona (on loan), Chelsea (twice) and most recently, Milan on loan. Joao Felix has the flair and technique to impact games, but is not disciplined enough out of possession and does not possess game-changing pace. At 25, he should be entering the peak of his career, but those years are unlikely to be spent at Chelsea despite his contract running until 2031. Contract expires: Summer 2025 The Spain international struggled at times with the physical demands of the Premier League during two and a half years at Wolves. He still managed to pop up with some vital goals and assists, and often added an element of calm from the bench when his side needed it. At the age of 33, Sarabia still has a couple of good years left in him and will be an attractive option for clubs in Europe, especially as he is a free agent. Advertisement Contract expires: Summer 2029 Nkunku has scored 11 goals in 78 Chelsea appearances since joining in 2023, less than half the 23 he scored in his final season at Leipzig. The 27-year-old is best when deployed as a second striker drifting into central zones from the left in transition, but struggled in Enzo Maresca's measured in-possession approach implemented this season. He also does not offer as much as others at Chelsea in Maresca's set-up without the ball. Nkunku's largely ineffective minutes as a false nine and left-winger this season show that he needs a specific set-up to thrive, and Chelsea are unlikely to be able to offer that. He wants to be playing regularly to get in the frame for France's World Cup squad next summer, should they qualify, so it is probably in his best interests to seek a move. The price, though, will have to be right. Contract expires: Summer 2027 The young midfielder has picked up silverware at Liverpool but has struggled for regular starts. With the Premier League champions already strengthening this summer, it might be the time for Elliott to move on and become a more significant player elsewhere. He has just two years remaining on his contract so Liverpool might do business at a reasonable price. Contract expires: Summer 2025 The appeal of the Belgian is obvious. One of the Premier League's greatest players, with 288 appearances, 72 goals, 118 assists and six league titles to his name, was available on a free transfer. Despite being almost 34, Napoli were understandably keen and have now snapped him up. Contract expires: Summer 2028 The 23-year-old has impressed during his time in Spain and has a release clause in his contract, which The Athletic reported last summer is set at €60m. That makes him a fairly attractive option to teams who want to sign an attacking midfielder with the confidence of knowing a set price for him. Contract expires: Summer 2026 A proven Premier League talent with one year left on his contract. It looks like the perfect time for Brentford to cash in and for Mbeumo to take the next step in his career. If Manchester United manage to secure his services, they are getting a player well-versed in scoring and assisting from the right wing. Advertisement The 25-year-old Cameroon international played all 38 games last season, scoring 20 times and completing eight assists — even if his non-penalty goals far exceeded his expected goals tally. It is so easy to see why United, among others, want him. Contract expires: Summer 2027 The Brazilian's huge-money move from Ajax to Old Trafford will go down as one of the worst transfers in Premier League history, given that the winger has made just 38 Premier League starts in three years, scoring five times. But his career in the Netherlands was impressive and, with just two years now remaining on his United contract, might be available at an affordable price. The Athletic reported on Tuesday that Real Betis, where he spent the second half of last season on loan, want to sign him permanently. Contract expires: Summer 2026 Now here's a player capable of scoring a wonder goal. Wilson's flicked finish against Brentford last season was voted Fulham's goal of 2024-25. And you can see why Fulham triggered the clause in the Wales international's contract, which will keep him at the club for one more year. Contract expires: Summer 2025 With 23 goals and seven assists during five seasons in La Liga with Espanyol, the right-sided forward is a proven performer, so the fact that his contract was due to expire this summer was always going to alert potential suitors. Puado has not yet signed a new contract with Espanyol. Any clubs looking for a bargain will surely be circling. Contract expires: Summer 2027 A season at Arsenal was a wasted year in the career of the former England winger, bringing just seven Premier League starts, but he is still only 30. Managers elsewhere will fancy their chances of helping him rediscover some form. Advertisement And with only two years remaining on his contract, an affordable deal might be possible. That said, Sterling is Chelsea's highest paid player on over £300,000-a-week, which has to be regarded as a stumbling block that any permanent move will need to overcome. Contract expires: Summer 2028 It was a trying season for Mohammed Kudus, but the 24-year-old still has the world at his feet. The Ghana international is contracted to West Ham until 2028 — a club he has played 80 times for, scored 19 goals for and created 13 assists for. For clubs in the market for a player who can play across the front line and surely has his best footballing years in front of him, Kudus makes for an exciting option if West Ham are willing to cash in. Contract expires: Summer 2028 The England international has three years remaining on his Old Trafford contract, but his career at United appears to be over. A deal is almost certainly there to be done for a player who showed glimmers of his best form during a loan at Aston Villa in the second half of last season. Contract expires: Summer 2027 Williams' penchant for delivering in big games has ensured that his development over the past three seasons has been keenly followed. He is two-footed, capable of playing on either wing and a menace thanks to his dribbling and trickery. Nico's occasional wastefulness in the final third is excusable given that he turns 23 only on July 12. He is armed with a variety of creative powers and is a joy to watch. He has a release clause of around €60m and, as The Athletic reported on Tuesday, Barcelona and Bayern Munich are emerging as more plausible destinations than the Premier League if he leaves Athletic Club. Advertisement Contract expires: Summer 2028 While not as explosive as some of those on this board, few wingers can compete with Rodrygo when it comes to work rate and passing in tight areas. The 24-year-old is incisive in and around the box with the ability to create from out wide too. Rodrygo can play across the frontline too, making him a prized possession this summer if made available by Real Madrid. However, The Athletic reported on Tuesday that the player's father, and agent, Eric Goes, is unwilling to enter into negotiations for now. Sources at Madrid's training ground say Rodrygo's attitude since returning to training has been positive. They add that new manager Alonso has been very attentive to him, showing him affection while also demanding a lot from the Brazilian. How the forward is used during the Club World Cup could be key to how the transfer window develops. Contract expires: Summer 2028 The Englishman also has three years remaining on his contract, so it will take a substantial amount of money to prise him away from Dortmund but at the age of 20, and after eight league goals last season, he now appears ready to leave the Bundesliga club. Chelsea failed to complete a deal in time for the start of the Club World Cup but remain keen to sign him. Gittens has already agreed terms with Chelsea on a seven-year contract. Contract expires: Summer 2026 Gnabry's contract expires next summer. The Bayern Munich and Germany international is currently playing at the Club World Cup and seems fairly settled with the Bundesliga champions. The 29-year-old is just seven strikes away from reaching a century of goals for Bayern, something he will surely be hoping to do. It feels like he is more likely to be a target for clubs next summer when they can potentially sign him as a free agent. Advertisement Contract expires: Summer 2027 After a positive start, Grealish's Manchester City career has gone badly wrong and the talent he displayed at Aston Villa and in his early days at the Etihad Stadium is going to waste. Grealish has also been left out of the Club World Cup squad, but it remains to be seen whether interested parties will be able to afford the financial package to sign him permanently. Contract at Wolves expired: Summer 2029 Fifteen goals, six assists, one red card, one retrospective punishment and a total of six games out through suspension — 2024-25 was quite the season for Cunha. Manchester United will feel that £62.5m — Cunha's release clause that took him to Old Trafford — is a bargain for a player who is a proven Premier League game-changer but they will aim to channel the Brazilian's volatile passion in a positive way to achieve the consistency they need. Judging by Cunha's position map below, the 26-year-old has the versatility to adapt to different positions and, therefore, the demands of his manager. One of Newcastle United's star players of the Eddie Howe era, Anthony Gordon, 24, is highly rated on Tyneside. A left winger who has always looked at home in the Premier League, Gordon would be an expensive acquisition should Newcastle be happy to part company with the England international. Arsenal admire him. Newcastle, though, have no need to sell their best players this summer and have given no indication they are willing to do so. Contract expires: Summer 2026 Sancho's future at Manchester United, given his struggles in the Premier League and the club's financial situation, is up in the air. The 25-year-old does not have the explosive pace over long distances to trouble defenders, while his end product has significantly suffered since his first spell at Borussia Dortmund. Advertisement Sancho still showed during his loan spell at Chelsea that he can be effective when games open up. There are teams that prefer an open style, as The Athletic detailed here, but his wages could be prohibitive, so a loan looks most likely. Contract expires: Summer 2027 Fati has received just 1,339 minutes of playing time across the last two seasons, including just 298 in 2024-25. Once considered the heir to Lionel Messi's throne, knee and hamstring injuries between 2020 and 2022 have stripped him of the speed and confidence he embodied in his early days with the first team. Fati's loan spell at Brighton & Hove Albion showed glimpses of what the 22-year-old still has to offer, such as his one-touch passing. A confidence boost is necessary, though, and a mooted loan move to Monaco as reported by The Athletic this month might provide it. Contract expires: Summer 2028 The Sweden international will not come cheap as he still has three years left on the contract he signed when he moved to Portugal from Coventry City. Gyokeres has a €100m release clause. The expectation is that the Portuguese club would be prepared to accept a fee in the region of £60m to £70m. But with 68 league goals in 66 appearances for the Portuguese champions, as well as 17 assists, the appeal of signing him is obvious, and there will be no shortage of suitors. Contract expires: Summer 2025 The Canada striker boasts a record of comfortably better than a goal every two games during five seasons in Ligue 1 with Lille and has now announced he will leave the club this summer. He is a free agent, is still aged just 25 and has played more than 30 games in each of his five seasons in France, so ticks many boxes for clubs looking to bolster their forward ranks. What stands out most about David is his unpredictability, as he can shoot with either foot. Trying to pin him to one side in particular is a fruitless task for opposition defenders; he will pull the trigger no matter the situation. Contract expires: Summer 2029 Sesko has scored 27 Bundesliga goals since joining Leipzig in 2023, adding six more in the Champions League. His overall play, particularly in link-up and pressing, has gradually improved, while he enjoys physical duels and is keen to get on the ball and make things happen. Advertisement The 22-year-old's shooting can be wayward as he often opts for power over placement and looks to strike as soon as he sees an opening rather than waiting for the optimal opportunity. Sesko has plenty of potential and could be a game-changer, which explains the links with multiple top European clubs including Arsenal. Contract at Ipswich Town expired: Summer 2029 Twelve Premier League goals in your first full season for relegated Ipswich was always going to attract attention. Chelsea ultimately won a race many were involved in, activating his £30m release clause. Delap gives his former Manchester City under-23s coach Enzo Maresca a variety of options. The 22-year-old is skilled at running in behind, physical hold-up play and carrying the ball at pace while brushing off defenders. Most importantly, Delap is a true No 9 by instinct and knows where to be to finish attacks. Contract expires: Summer 2028 Ever since Arsenal tested the waters with Villa over the striker in January, it has been clear that the Midlands club might consider selling their most reliable goalscorer, with PSR concerns part of the equation. That means a sensible offer could help a club land an England international and a Premier League No 9 of proven quality. Contract expires: Summer 2026 After hitting 20 goals in two consecutive Serie A seasons in 2020-21 and 2021-22, the Serbian has struggled to recapture that form in any of his three full seasons with Juventus. But he is still just 25 and his contract expires in a year, so clubs will fancy their chances of a cheap deal for a player with potential to score goals. Contract expires: Summer 2027 The young Frenchman only has two years remaining on his contract. But Frankfurt have so far maintained that Ekitike, who turns 23 this week, will not leave for less than their €100m asking price, albeit they are willing to be flexible around the structure of a deal. Nevertheless, high-class No 9s always command a premium, so there is unlikely to be a shortage of suitors. Contract expires: Summer 2028 Liverpool will listen to offers for Nunez. What are you getting if you buy him? Along with his sleeves of tattoos, he wears his heart on there, too. We know his shortcomings in front of goal, but for those looking for a powerful and pacy goal threat, then the Uruguayan could be it. Liverpool will be looking to recoup a significant amount of the €75m fee they paid Benfica for his services back in 2022. Advertisement Contract expires: Summer 2026 If you have watched Yoane Wissa play a single game for Brentford you will know exactly what he is about. He is a finisher. Last season, he scored 19 times in the league and the season before, he scored 12 times. It feels like he is on an upward trajectory and getting better with every passing season. He is a classic headache for defenders, and this makes Wissa a solid target for any top division club in Europe looking to add goals to their team. His contract is up next summer, so Brentford could look to cash in for the right price. Contract expires: Summer 2028 Emegha enjoyed a breakout season for Strasbourg, scoring 14 goals in 27 Ligue 1 matches. His channel running and positioning are designed to confuse defences, creating opportunities for himself and his team-mates. Within the box, he finished as well as anyone across Europe, with 0.28 expected goals per shot in the league. Given the search for quality strikers across Europe, the 22-year-old Emegha could be of interest. He is strong despite his lean frame and adept at hold-up play and in transition, making him a good fit in various attacking schemes. Contract expires: Summer 2028 When Manchester United signed Hojlund it felt like a shrewd move given his age, profile and talent, despite reservations over a total package worth up to €85m. But two seasons on it has not quite worked out as intended for the Danish striker in Manchester, where he has scored 26 goals in 95 appearances. The past couple of years will have been a test like no other for Hojlund, 22, whose talents may shine brighter away from Old Trafford. Contract expires: Summer 2026 Osimhen has abilities that teams covet in strikers. He creates shots out of nothing multiple times in a game, his right-footed finishes are explosive, and he is tremendous in the air. Within the box, the 26-year-old's close control is fabulous too. Advertisement The concerns around Osimhen are his injury record, though he played 41 matches for Galatasaray in 2023-24, the highest single-season tally in his senior career, which yielded 37 goals. His shot-heavy approach results in variance, but that is a gamble worth taking if teams can afford his wages and meet Napoli's asking price. The Athletic reported on Tuesday that Galatasaray are looking to make his loan move permanent. (Photos: Getty Images; graphic: Eamonn Dalton)
