Blues land £58m Pulisic as Hazard insurance
CHELSEA have completed the £58million signing of Christian Pulisic from Borussia Dortmund and installed their contingency plan in case Eden Hazard leaves in the summer. USA international Pulisic will spend the rest of the season at Dortmund before making the switch, by which time Hazard will have just 12 months remaining on his contract at Stamford Bridge. Hazard is prepared to delay a final decision on his future until the season is over as he waits on a signal from Real Madrid. Chelsea were determined to strike early for 20-year-old Pulisic, 20, to beat competition from rivals, including Liverpool and Arsenal, and have paid a premium on the price for a player with a contract due to expire at the end of next season Only Kepa Arrizabalaga and Alvaro Morata have cost the club more. But it avoids the added pressure and price hikes which will inevitably occur if Hazard is sold and it addresses the lingering threat of a transfer ban as FIFA continue to investigate Chelsea for allegations of wrongdoing in relation to the international transfer of Under 16s. Pulisic can operate as a wide attacker in Maurizio Sarri’s Martin Samuel’s exclusive story on November 17 system and is at an age with scope to develop and improve. ‘We are delighted to have signed one of Europe’s most soughtafter young players,’ said Chelsea director Marina Granovskaia. ‘Christian has shown his quality during a fantastic spell in Germany and at just 20 we believe he has the potential to become an important Chelsea player for many years to come.’ Only last week, the Chelsea manager urged the board to be decisive over the Hazard situation. They have answered his call by completing the deal for Pulisic. Meanwhile, Wolves have made a £18m bid for Chelsea’s 21-year-old England striker Tammy Abraham. Bayern Munich are still pushing to sign teenage winger Callum Hudson-Odoi, having had a £20m bid rejected. Juventus and RB Leipzig are also interested. And Crystal Palace have asked about taking Belgium international forward Michy Batshuayi on loan from Stamford Bridge after a move for Liverpool’s Dominic Solanke stalled.