Newcastle United are reportedly willing to cough up €45 million to sign wantaway Chelsea star Christian Pulisic in the upcoming January transfer window.
Newcastle United are ready to pay €45 million to sign USMNT star Christian Pulisic in the January transfer window. That is according to Spanish outlet Todo Mercado Web, which claims that the 24-year-old is hugely disappointed by his lack of playing time at Chelsea and wants to force through a transfer when the transfer market reopens post-World Cup.
The former Borussia Dortmund winger has endured a frustrating time ever since moving to Stamford Bridge in 2019. His tenure has been plagued by injuries, and he has more often than not played a bit-part role under different managers at Stamford Bridge. The 24-year-old has 26 goals in 126 appearances and he needs to play more regularly at this point in his career.
The American attacker has made 11 appearances across all competitions for Chelsea this season, registering one goal and one assist from 284 minutes of football action, with most of his outings being off-the-bench cameos. But there is some hope that Pulisic will be granted more minutes under newly-appointed Blues boss Graham Potter.
Pulisic has made four appearances under the former Brighton and Hove Albion boss, although just one of them has been as a starter. There have been doubts that the 24-year-old could be out of shape for the World Cup Finals with the United States next month.
And the situation does not get any better after the World Cup either. Chelsea co-owner Todd Boehly is poised to once again splash the cash on shiny new toys in the upcoming transfer windows, having already agreed to a pre-contract agreement with Christopher Nkunku. The USMNT international might feel that he will be shunned down the pecking order even further at Chelsea.
A host of clubs were interested in signing the Chelsea attacker this past summer, but nothing ever materialized. Newcastle United, for one, were said to be ‘obsessed’ about acquiring his services, according to transfer guru Fabrizio Romano, who has explained why the attacker didn’t end up at St James Park.
Speaking to the Que Golazo podcast last month, quotes relayed by Football365, Romano said, “Newcastle were obsessed with Christian [Pulisic]. They wanted him on loan, but not on a permanent deal. They wanted him on loan, maybe with a buy option, not mandatory. And this is why Chelsea decided to say no.”
But it seems that stance has changed now, with the club’s wealthy owners expected to back manager Eddie Howe further in the winter market in order to boost their push for European spots after their splendid start to the season.
The Magpies are riding high in the sixth spot in the Premier League table. B0ut some of their key players including Allan Saint-Maximin and Alexander Isak have suffered niggling injuries this term. Signing someone of Pulisic’s calibre, versatility, and directness could be a game-changer for their European ambitions this term as it will add further quality depth in attacking areas.
However, Newcastle are not the only club showing an interest in a deal for Pulisic. Europe’s biggest clubs, including his former club Borussia Dortmund and Italian giants Juventus, have been put on high alert by reports that the 24-year-old is unhappy at Chelsea and is desperate to leave the club in January.
