Chelsea are favourites to sign Borussia Dortmund star Christian Pulisic but are trying to bring down the Ruhr based side’s asking price for the attacker, it has been claimed.
According to a report by Goal, Chelsea don’t want to pay as much as £70 million, which happens to be Dortmund’s asking price for the American.
Dortmund have already shown their reluctance in letting go of their prized superstar in January. However, given Pulisic’s ambition of playing in the Premier League, a summer move could be on the horizon.
But, will he be a smart signing for the Blues?
Christian Pulisic: Player profile
Christian Pulisic is labelled as an old-fashioned attacker. Unlike most modern day wingers, the American international likes to get to the byline and provide crosses into the box or stretch play.
However, he also likes to take on defenders, having averaged over 3.5 dribbles per game. His direct style play often causes havoc in the opposition defence while the 20-year-old can also make clever runs into the box – making him an ideal player for the possession-based game.
Although he may not be the fastest winger in the world, Pulisic’s ability to play quick one-on-ones even in tight spaces allows him to thrive in the final third.
On the flip side, however, the American international often lacks composure in the final third as well as struggling against high-pressing oppositions, which has been rather evident in his performances against clubs like Atletico Madrid, Hertha Berlin and Mainz this season.
Will he be an ideal fit for Chelsea?
Chelsea’s interest in Pulisic makes a lot of sense. As iterated earlier, his ability to run at defenders as well as provide dangerous crosses into the box could be ideal in Maurizio Sarri’s possession-oriented gameplay.
While he may not be as effective as Eden Hazard in terms of his ability to breach the opposition defence with mazy runs, Pulisic certainly has the quality to provide a threat with his tenacity.
That being said, the Dortmund star has struggled in recent months, often failing to maintain consistency in regards to his performance. In fact, Pulisic has even failed to make himself a regular fixture under Lucien Favre this season, with Jadon Sancho often preferred ahead of the American international.
Additionally, the Dortmund academy product lacks the physical attributes that are necessary for any Premier League attacker nowadays, meaning he can easily be dispossessed, which can be an issue in the fast-paced and physically astute English football.
Stat courtesy: Whoscored