Maurizio Sarri says Callum Hudson-Odoi at same level as Pedro and Willian and urges him to stay at Chelsea

Maurizio Sarri insists he now views Callum Hudson-Odoi as being at the same level as Willian and Pedro, the winger’s more senior team-mates, and has urged the 18 year-old to commit his long-term future to Chelsea.

Sarri, the head coach, claimed in November he was uncertain whether the teenager was ready to make the step up and be considered for inclusion against more demanding opponents.

Since then, Hudson-Odoi, who has attracted the attention of Bayern Munich and been linked with a £30 million move to the Bundesliga club, has impressed, prompting Sarri to admit his views have changed ahead of Tuesday night’s Carabao Cup semi-final first leg with Tottenham Hotspur.

“He is ready I think [to play in the bigger games],” said Sarri. “Of course, we have very important players in the same position. I can play with only two wingers. But now he is ready. Of course, some times he will be on the bench but the same as Willian and Pedro. I can start to consider him on the same level.”

Sarri believes Hudson-Odoi’s development is best served by remaining at Stamford Bridge and urged the player, who has 18 months left on his current contract and has yet to accept the offer of a new deal, to stay put. “I think that he has a very great future here in England with the national team and with Chelsea,” he said. “To stay here is better for him.”

Sarri, meanwhile, has endorsed the decision of Cesc Fabregas to join Monaco and indicated he believes there should be exceptions to the club’s policy of offering only one-year contracts to players over 30. He also insisted he wants to see a new midfielder come in this month, with Cagliari’s Nicolo Barella his preferred choice and Zenit St Petersburg’s Leandro Paredes an alternative target.

“In my opinion, he (Cesc) needs to go,” said Sarri. “You know there is a rule for the renewal of players over 30 and I don't want a very important player as Cesc not happy. But this is only my opinion, it depends on the club.”

Pressed on whether he supports the club policy, he added: “My opinion is it depends on the situation I think. The situation is not the same for every player over 30, so it’s my opinion.”

Another player who could be on the move this month is striker Alvaro Morata, who is a loan target of Sevilla, and has been touted in a possible swap deal involving Gonzalo Higuain, who is on loan at AC Milan from Juventus.

Chelsea will let Morata go if they can sign a replacement striker and the Blues have made enquiries about Higuain, Callum Wilson and Jamie Vardy among others.

Ruben Loftus-Cheek will miss the Tottenham game and is out with a mystery back injury that Chelsea are investigating through scans and blood tests.