PREMIER LEAGUE ACTION
CHELSEA kicked off what could be a big-spending transfer window yesterday when they splashed £57.6m on Christian Pulisic.
The 20-year-old Borussia Dortmund and USA winger has signed a five-and-halfyear deal at Stamford Bridge but was loaned back to the German club for the rest of the season.
His arrival sparked fears about the future of academy youngster Callum Hudson-Odoi, whose contract is up in 18 months.
But Chelsea have rejected a £20m offer from Bayern Munich for the 18-year-old and insist he is going nowhere.
Pulisic, who has scored three goals and has four assists this season, was also wanted by Liverpool and it’s understood their interest pushed up the price.
Dortmund said the deal is “extremely lucrative… given the low contract maturity” because Pulisic was due to become a free agent at the end of next season.
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His arrival will not be the end of the comings and goings, with Cesc Fabregas set to play his last game for the Blues this weekend.
The 31-year-old is on the verge of joining Thierry Henry at Monaco, where he will earn a signing-on bonus of more than £9m.
Veteran defender Gary Cahill is also close to a loan switch to Fulham, which will effectively end Chelsea career as he is out of contract in the summer.
Misfit midfielder Danny Drinkwater has also been made available, while the club are putting pressure on playmaker Eden Hazard to decide his future.
Real Madrid have yet to make a serious move for Hazard, who is one of three other players, along with Pedro, 31, and Willian, 30, who will be out of contract in 2020.
But boss Maurizio Sarri wants to know whether they can plan for the future with the Belgium star.
Pulisic, who has been a long-term target, is the first stage of that process and is unlikely to be the only signing this month.
He said: “It’s a privilege to have signed for such a legendary club.
“I look forward to being a contributor to their team of world-class players.”