From Chelsea to Liverpool: which Premier League club is best suited for Christian Pulisic?

With less than two weeks remaining in the Premier League’s transfer window, most clubs are still looking to strengthen their squads ahead of the new season.

One player higher on a number of wishlists is Borussia Dortmund midfielder Christian Pulisic who, at just 19, is being tipped for a very good career should his current development continue.

While the player has not explicitly asked, or shown any sign of wanting, to leave Dortmund, his father has hinted a move to the Premier League could be on the cards at some point soon.

When asked specifically about a move to the Premier League, Mark Pulisic said: “Yeah, of course.

“The Premier League is a league where he’s always aspired to be in and play in.

“As a player nowadays, there are so few players staying at one club throughout a career, the chances of him moving to different clubs and leagues is a high probability.”

But which Premier League club would be most suited for the American midfielder?

What Pulisic needs to thrive

At Dortmund last season, Pulisic played largely as a right-sided winger as part of a 4-3-3 or a 4-2-3-1 but also showed up at times on the left.

Both roles allowed the American to attack opposition defences using his technical dribbling abilities, with Pulisic completing 77 take-ons throughout the Bundesliga season – 49 more than his closest Dortmund rival.

And he was just as creative too, recording five assists, more than any other Dortmund player in the Bundesliga last season.

The creative freedom Pulisic was given by managers Peter Bosz and Peter Stoger allowed the American to thrive out wide – but did not stop him from cutting inside at times to be a more direct threat in scoring four goals.

It’s also worth nothing that for the USMNT, Pulisic has been deployed as the central No.10 given his ability and although he is suited to a wide-role, seeing him operate centrally at club level is not beyond the realms of possibility.

Liverpool

Current wing options: Mohamed Salah, Sadio Mane, Xherdan Shaqiri, Sheyi Ojo, Lazar Markovic, Ben Woodburn

Primary formation: 4-3-3

Secondary formation: 4-2-3-1

Given Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp’s links with Dortmund, having led the German side to five trophies in seven years including back-to-back Bundesliga titles, the Reds are high on the list of clubs likely to sign Pulisic, who would fit into their attacking style of play.

Last season the Reds performed above expectations in reaching the Champions League final and scoring 84 goals in the Premier League. This was largely down to the attacking trio of Mohamed Salah, Sadio Mane and Roberto Firmino.

Playing on the right, Salah stormed his way to the Premier League’s Golden Boot with 32 goals in 36 games but his real strength was the direct pace and dribbling precision which got him into the goalscoring positions.

Pulisic was nowhere near the goalscoring or creative abilities of Salah or Mane last season, directly contributing to just nine goals for Dortmund despite his promise, though the chance for him to work and grow under Klopp could be a match made in heaven.

Verdict: When looking at the teams linked, Liverpool may be the one Pulisic chooses, but he may struggle to find game time given the man ahead of him in his preferred position.

Tottenham Hotspur

Current wing options: Heung-min Son, Georges-Kevin N’Koudou, Lucas Moura, Erik Lamela

Primary formation: 4-2-3-1

Secondary formation: 3-4-2-1

Tottenham manager Mauricio Pochettino is the modern champion of young players having overseen the growth and progress of Dele Alli, Harry Kane, Eric Dier, Christian Eriksen and many more.

During his four-year spell at the club so far, he has lifted Spurs from a top-six side to a consistent competitor for a Champions League place, though he has yet to win a trophy.

It would be unclear, however, where Pulisic might fit into a Spurs team which is yet to find its best formation. For the most part of last season, the north London club set out in a 4-2-3-1 but the player placed on either wing, one of Christian Eriksen, Dele Alli or Heung-min Son, attacking more centrally given their preferred positions.

And when the club have switched to a three-man central defence, the attack makes way, with two central attacking midfielders lining up behind Harry Kane.

Although Pulisic turns heads as a direct winger, his comfort playing more centrally and the potential to do so long-term means that he could fulfil multiple roles for Mauricio Pochettino. Adapting seamlessly to his different styles and variations of tradition wide roles, Pulisic could well be the missing piece in Poch’s squad.

Verdict: Spurs have been crying out for a winger for quite some time. Lucas Moura is the latest to try and fill the void but should he fail to impress, Pulisic could prove the ultimate gambit given his versatility.

Manchester United

Current wing options: Marcus Rashford, Anthony Martial, Alexis Sanchez, Juan Mata, Andreas Pereira, Jesse Lingard.

Primary formation: 4-2-3-1

Secondary formation: 4-3-3

Manchester United are currently in the market for a right winger, with Willian and Ante Rebic the personal favourites of Jose Mourinho. But with a deal for neither close, Pulisic could represent a different option.

Mourinho is currently unhappy with many of his attacking players after they failed to push United to a trophy last season and has been very vocal about his discontent at times.

Just as during his second spell at Chelsea, Mourinho is almost hoarding attacking talent with the likes of Marcus Rashford, Anthony Martial, Alexis Sanchez, Juan Mata and Jesse Lingard all fighting on a first-team place. As a result, a number of them have been restricted to substitute appearances and sporadic starts in cup competitions.

Mourinho also requires his attacking players to be heavily involved defensively, which would see Pulisic have to get up and down the pitch in a way he would not be used to as he did most of his defending high up at Dortmund.

Verdict: Pulisic is arguably the right-winger Man Utd should target, but given his age and Jose Mourinho’s apparent unwillingness to trust a young player in such a role, he should steer clear.

Chelsea

Current wing options: Eden Hazard, Callum Hudson-Odoi, Willian, Pedro, Victor Moses, Charly Musonda, Lucas Piazon

Primary formation: 4-3-3

Secondary formation: 4-2-3-1

Chelsea are the most recent side to be linked with a move for Pulisic and, surprisingly, may present the best route into first-team football. The Blues have a poor reputation in the development of young players, with several of their own academy products having to move on to get first-team opportunities.

With the arrival of Maurizio Sarri this summer, Chelsea have switched to a 4-3-3 formation which opens up the need for a right winger. So far in their pre-season, the club have used Pedro to good effect with the Spaniard scoring two goals in two games.

But Pedro has just turned 31 and may not be able to provide top-level football for the duration of a season which will see Chelsea in the Europa League. The other current options in that position for Chelsea are Willian, whose future is in doubt, and Victor Moses who is still at the club due to being utilised as a wing-back under Antonio Conte.

Pulisic is the type of winger who could thrive on the right side of a Sarrismo team, allowing his left-sided teammate to do most of the attacking while still adding a vital contribution to goals when required. Given his technique and dribbling ability, he could equally excel on the left-hand side, opening up the likes of Eden Hazard or evem Callum Hudson-Odoi to operate as a false nine – both have previous.

Verdict: Despite their poor reputation with young players, Chelsea may be the best option for Pulisic to get consistent first-team football.

Conclusion:

According to the player’s father, Pulisic is just as likely to stay at Dortmund this summer as he is to move to the Premier League.

He said: “He’s linked with a different club every week. Right now, Christian plays for Dortmund and that’s where he is planning on playing again next year.”

But were the American to leave Dortmund to further his career, a move to London would most likely be the best destination for his career.

Short-term, Chelsea and Sarri would prove the best option given their need for a right winger. But under Pochettino, in the longer run, he may be able to grow more and fulfil his frightening potential.

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