Everton to rival Fulham for Chelsea outcast Callum Hudson-Odoi, Blues demanding £8m

Everton have joined the race for Chelsea misfit Callum Hudson-Odoi with a proposed transfer to Fulham stalling, the Evening Standard reports.

Hudson-Odoi has plenty of admirers in the Premier League, but Fulham are at the forefront of the race to capture his signature.

However, negotiations with their capital rivals have hit a roadblock, and Fulham are struggling in their quest to lure the England international to Craven Cottage.

Chelsea are determined to cut Hudson-Odoi loose this summer, but not without pocketing at least £8 million from his departure.

Fulham consider those demands to be outrageous and have refused to fork out such an amount for a player who has entered the final year of his contract at Stamford Bridge.

Marko Silva is desperate to bolster his attacking options before the transfer window closes, and Hudson-Odoi is among several forward players on his shortlist.

The Cobham Academy graduate has already given Fulham the green light to pursue his signature as he looks to revive his career.

Nonetheless, they are unwilling to match Chelsea’s demands, with has impacted the chances of a move being finalised before the end of the month.

Everton have now entered the race, and it remains to be seen if concrete competition will force Fulham to wrap up a deal for the Englishman.

The Toffees are also keen to bolster their attacking ranks and have Hudson-Odoi firmly on their radar despite the player boasting just four goals in 72 Premier League games.

They are on the verge of losing Demarai Gray, who isn’t considered a key player by Sean Dyche and has agreed a move to Al-Shabab.

But despite being surplus to requirements in Merseyside, Everton are unwilling to sanction his departure without having a replacement in place.

Dyche’s side are already significantly limited in the forward areas with Dwight McNeil, Alex Iwobi and Jack Harrison in the treatment room, and Gray’s imminent departure will only weaken the squad further.