A Premier League star is reportedly inching ever closer to switching loyalties on the international stage.

SA-Ghana Ref In Hot Water Again?

Various reports state that the Ghana Football Association could be on the verge of appointing former Newcastle United manager Chris Hughton as the new head coach of the Black Stars, with his first order of business seemingly being to convince Chelsea star Callum Hudson-Odoi to play for the African nation.

The winger last represented England in 2019, but even with his minutes increasing for Chelsea under Thomas Tuchel, this has not coincided with a new call-up to the national team.

It was reported in The Telegraph last October that Gareth Southgate held talks with Hudson-Odoi to persist with his Three Lions international career, but after having rejected a call-up to the England U21 set-up in November, it appears the 21-year-old could soon be representing Ghana.

Click through the gallery below to see more players who chose Africa over Europe: 

As per CitiSports, Hudson-Odoi's father Bismark Odoi was photographed meeting with Hughton while on holiday in the West African country.

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Hughton, who is also of Ghanaian descent, has "already shifted into gear" to convince more foreign players with Ghanaian ancestry to join the African side, Sports Illustrated reports. 

It was said last year that the player would only be able to represent Ghana if he does not make another appearance for England after FIFA introduced rules in September 2020 that state: 

1. the player was eligible for their new association at the time of their first official appearance for their first national team;
2. the player appeared in no more than three competitive senior games before they turned 21;
3. the player has not featured in an official international tournament; and
4. the player has not played for their previous national team for three years.