IT’S PUL STEAM AHEAD
Blues start their January spree with £58m US star
CHELSEA plan to back Maurizio Sarri with a mid-season revamp after landing £58million midfielder Christian Pulisic.
The Blues beat Liverpool and Manchester City to the signing of the 20-year-old American but he’ll be loaned back to Borussia Dortmund until summer.
In the meantime Chelsea are hunting another striker to take the pressure off Eden Hazard with Bournemouth’s Callum Wilson still in their sights.
Sarri also wants a new defender with Gary Cahill being chased by a number of clubs including Fulham, Watford and West Ham.
Pulisic signed a five-and-a half year deal to help take the club forward from next season. US national team coach Gregg Berhalter said: “When you talk about him being able to play in the Premier League you see he has the ability to unbalance a defence. “He is very good technically, has very good mobility, excellent shooting and can give a final pass.
“He is the type of player you see in the Premier League now and that makes it such an exciting league.”
And Pulisic’s dad Mark has revealed Christian’s “obsession” with the game came from his spell at Brackley Town in Northamptonshire as a seven-year-old.
Born in Pennsylvania, his mum Kelley had received a teaching exchange scholarship to work in England.
Speaking in 2016, Mark said: “The coach, Robin Walker, was a real influence and we’re still friends to this day.
“Christian went to play in tournaments and fell in love, became obsessed with the sport. He played every day at school and after school, going out into the playground and kicking the ball around with kids of any age.”
The spell lasted just a year before Mark returned home to continue his coaching career and was able to guide his son through development groups at Michigan Rush and national academy side PA Classics.
By then Dortmund were tracking his progress and the German giants snapped up the 16-year-old in 2015.
Sarri is expected to remodel the Chelsea team next season around Pulisic as he dismantles Antonio Conte’s title-winning squad. The former Dortmund star’s arrival would appear to leave the writing on the wall for Ruben Loftus Cheek, 22, who is already struggling for regular first-team action after coming through the Chelsea academy.
The future of Eden Hazard also remains uncertain despite the arrival of Pulisic. The American’s presence is unlikely to convince Hazard to stay instead of opting for a move to Real Madrid.
Cesc Fabregas also appears to be heading out, with Ligue 1 strugglers Monaco the likely destination as early as next week for the 31-year-old midfielder whose deal expires in summer.