These stories are samples pulled from external media sources. They do not represent the views or position of Chelsea Football Club.

Hudson-Odoi off crutches at Maradona film premiere

The Daily Mail is reporting that Callum Hudson-Odoi was walking without the support of crutches when he attended the premiere of a new documentary on Diego Maradona in central London on Monday.

The 18-year-old winger is recovering from surgery on an Achilles injury he suffered in April which caused him to miss Chelsea’s closing matches of the season including the Europa League final against Arsenal.

However, his recovery appears to be on track after he was photographed without the crutches at the event in Picturehouse Central.

Hudson-Odoi admitted that he was fascinated by Maradona and the work of director Asif Kapadia who produced documentaries on Ayrton Senna and Amy Winehouse before turning his attention to the Argentinian football legend.

‘It became an idea of, what happens if you get old and you've got this amazing gift?’ explained Chelsea’s Young Player of the Year to the Press Association.

'Also, I suppose there was a question of, why is he [Maradona] doing the things that he's doing? Why is he still creating chaos?

'And I didn't know what the story was going to be, I didn't know whether or not I'd like him, even. It's actually happened along the way.'

Fabregas has respect for ‘stubborn’ Sarri

Speaking in an interview reported by a number of media outlets including Sky Sports, former Chelsea midfielder Cesc Fabregas has given his opinion about the management style of Maurizio Sarri, saying that the Italian has a ‘very stubborn’ character but has his respect.

‘He is very superstitious, he is very stubborn in this way,’ said the Spaniard, who joined Monaco on a free transfer after not figuring regularly for the Blues under Sarri during the first half of the season.

‘He is a manager with his own ideas and he doesn't move from them much. He has an idea of how he wants to play and the football that he really wants to play.

‘He doesn't move from it. No matter what you tell him, no matter what you advise him, no matter what your opinion is, he will never change.

‘But he did it the way he likes it. He has his own vision of football and, in the end, he is where he is with it and you have to respect that.’

As an Arsenal player, Fabregas had a strong rivalry with Frank Lampard but he praised the Chelsea legend for what he had done at Derby County in his first football management appointment.

‘I think he has done a really impressive job, it's his first ever job. He changed many things,’ he added.

‘He had a very difficult squad, an older squad full of players at the end of their contracts as well, he renewed completely the squad, took on young players.

‘He played a really aggressive style, attacking football. Really for a first-ever job, I think he has done really good.’

Several clubs interested in Kane

The Football Insider website is reporting that four clubs are interested in signing Todd Kane after it was revealed that the defender is being released by Chelsea.

According to the report, Championship sides Sheffield United, Fulham and Derby, and Premier League newcomers Aston Villa are in a race to sign the 25-year-old free agent following the expiry of his Chelsea deal.

The former England Under-19 international has piqued the interest of the clubs after a successful season on loan at Hull City, where he made 41 appearances and netted three goals for the Tigers.

‘Sheffield United could be in need of a new right-back should they lose Celtic target George Baldock this summer, while Aston Villa are also in the market for full-back reinforcements after releasing Alan Hutton, Ritchie de Laet and Micah Richards at the end of the season,’ read the report.

‘Fulham are keen to strengthen their defensive options next season as they prepare for life back in the Championship.

‘Derby boss Frank Lampard is an admirer of Kane having played with him during his time at Chelsea and he fits the bill for them as he is a free agent, with finances set to be tight for the Rams this summer.’