USMNT star Christian Pulisic will leave Chelsea this summer, according to a report from ESPN.
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Pulisic, 24, will have just one year remaining on his Chelsea contract at the end of the 2022-23 season and according to the report, the American winger will lead an ‘summer transfer exodus’ at Chelsea.
With 18 players arriving at Chelsea over the last two transfer windows under the new American ownership led by Todd Boehly, a huge number of players will have to leave to make that sustainable.
It is reported that Hakim Ziyech, Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, Callum Hudson-Odoi, Kalidou Koulibaly, Romelu Lukaku and Mateo Kovacic could also leave, while contract talks continue with Mason Mount and N’Golo Kante but they could also depart.
Per the report, there are no plans for Chelsea to offer Pulisic a new contract and the USMNT winger was keen on a move in January (Manchester United and Newcastle were reportedly interested) before he suffered a knee injury which will keep him out until March.
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Why is this the end for him at Chelsea?
If he is to leave, he has to go somewhere he is going to play regularly. Pulisic has never been able to hold down a sustained starting spot at Chelsea despite some impressive spells.
Injuries have been a key reason why he has never flourished at Chelsea, but three managers over the last four years have not helped his case either.
The USMNT winger can do it at the Premier League and Champions League level and his time at Chelsea hasn’t been a failure at all. But it hasn’t been what anyone hoped it would be. Pulisic has not become the superstar he was expected to become.
Where next for Pulisic?
Now he needs to find a club where he will be the superstar and the star man, instead of being at a club where he is one of many superstars.
That is a hard jump to make after being at Borussia Dortmund and Chelsea during his career to date.
If Manchester United come in for him, should he move there? Probably not. He has to go somewhere he knows he is going to play week in, week out and be the man.
Whether that is a team battling for a top six finish in the Premier League or a team in Italy, Germany or Spain who are challenging for the title and trophies, he has to take the next step in his career and be the talisman at his next club.
It was always risky to join Chelsea when he did but he won the Champions League and has played a key role in stretches throughout his time in west London. It didn’t quite work out and that’s okay. He’s not even close to his prime.
However, this next move has to be the right one and has to work out if he’s truly going to become the superstar every USMNT fan hopes he can be. He can be that star but know it is all about putting himself in the best possible position to succeed.
Report: Christian Pulisic set to leave Chelsea this summer originally appeared on NBCSports.com