Callum Hudson-Odoi Transfer: Bayern takes stock of the pursuit of the Chelsea star

Bayern Munich warned Chelsea that they would return for the summer at the price of £ 35 million Callum Hudson-Odoi – and that the Blues had to fight to keep it.

German champions Karl-Heinz Rummenigge said: "We want to have the best quality of players."

Chelsea has rejected a series of nominations for Hudson-Odoi, 18 – Bayern's No. 1 target for the January transfer window – but the teen is still eager to leave the club.

Chelsea was not moved by a transfer request ahead of last week's deadline and, having already courted, Maurizio Sarri said last week that Hudson-Odoi had to "respect the 39, club academy ".

Bayern director Hasan Salihamidzic fought the player last month with England's international under-19 widower, desperate to leave after failing at the start of a Premier League game for Chelsea.

Bayern President Karl-Heinz Rummenigge said: "We want to have the best quality players in Bayern and Hasan. [Salihamidzic, director] is totally convinced of this player. That's the reason.

"The only thing Hasan would have been happy to finish was this Chelsea player, because he was practically falling in love with this player because of his quality.

"I would not deny now that the aggressive court did not work well in London. But you can not forget that Hasan Salihamidzic had to make a sign to the player somewhere.

"He was not directly in touch with him personally, since it was not allowed after all, but the player still had to receive a signal to know if Bayern Munich was completely behind him."

Chelsea must also fight to keep another of its stars, Reece James, with Brighton and Crystal Palace among a number of interested Premier League clubs.

The 19-year-old has not yet played a single game for the Blues. He is on loan for the season with the Wigan club. But he impressed in the central midfield during QPR's 2-1 win on Saturday, and has already announced a promising future.

Wigan boss Paul Cook said, "He's the player of the month every month and he's the man of the match almost every week."