Omari Hutchinson has some big decisions to make this summer.
The Chelsea forward, 20, who is impressing on loan for Ipswich Town this season, is a man in demand not just at club level but on the international stage, too.
Hutchinson has just over one year left on his contract at Chelsea, with several teams monitoring his situation with a view to a transfer or a possible loan for next season.
Chelsea, for their part, are very happy with how his loan has progressed at Ipswich — something that has been communicated to him often. No date is set in stone, but the two parties are expected to sit down to discuss his future at the end of the campaign. It would be a surprise if an extension is not offered.
As Hutchinson told The Athletic in November, his primary ambition is to stay and win trophies with Chelsea. Without being arrogant, Hutchinson feels he is good enough to do so. In the second half of last season, he found himself often playing in small-sided training drills with Portugal international Joao Felix, who was on loan at Chelsea from Atletico Madrid and is now doing well at Barcelona. The two of them would combine to great effect, leaving their opponents chasing shadows.
Hutchinson would go home buoyed, with the sessions having given him more belief he could play for the senior side.
But Hutchinson’s position of choice would be on the right flank or in the No 10 role — areas of the pitch where Chelsea boast plenty of competition for places. Cole Palmer, Raheem Sterling, Mykhailo Mudryk, Noni Madueke, Carney Chukwuemeka and Conor Gallagher have all played in one or both of these roles this season.
They would potentially represent a barrier to Hutchinson maintaining the progress made at Ipswich, where he has eight goals and six assists from 42 appearances in Kieran McKenna’s impressive side. To continue his development, the youngster will need more games at first-team level rather than sitting on the bench or reverting to football in the under-21s.
In that context, Chelsea cannot assume Hutchinson, who is planning to go on the club’s pre-season tour to the United States in July, will extend his stay at Stamford Bridge.
Hutchinson spoke with those closest to him, including McKenna, about what to do. A combination of feeling the strain of his first season of regular senior football and wanting to ensure he is in good condition for Ipswich’s promotion run-in, repaying McKenna for the faith and support he has shown, led to the decision to put international football on hold. But this should not be seen as a mark of disrespect to the two countries.
Hutchinson has been brilliant for Championship high-fliers Ipswich Town this season on loan. The talented Jamaica international has accumulated 42 appearances for the Tractor Boys in all competitions and has scored eight goals and provided six assists along the way. Some of those goals have been huge for Ipswich in their promotion push.
