Why a Christian Pulisic loan to Manchester United would make sense for all involved

Abraham Smith

He was sent into the final game with just seven minutes left, which is little more than it takes to tie your shoes, run onto the field and run away after the final whistle. This is Christian Pulisic’s circumstance at Chelsea at the moment, which is why many believe he won’t be at Chelsea much longer.

To the list of transfer rumors affecting the biggest name in the USA men’s national team, we can add the possibility of a move to Manchester United. ESPN FC reported that the Red Devils have contacted Chelsea about a possible loan deal from Pulisic.

There were previously rumors he was sold to wealthy Newcastle United and links with Liverpool and Juventus have also surfaced in recent weeks.

A loan deal is an odd arrangement for a player of Pulisic’s caliber.

As well as being the USMNT’s most prominent and successful player, he was a key figure in Chelsea’s 2021 UEFA Champions League triumph. He scored an away goal against Real Madrid in the semifinals and then used his ingenuity to save team-mate Mason Mount ready for a tap-in to take the series win over Madrid at home. In the final, he helped control the ball and limit Manchester City’s chances in the final 24 minutes to secure the trophy.

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Producing in a Big Moment was something he had also done a year earlier. In the 2020 FA Cup Final he scored a goal in the sixth minute to lead Chelsea 1-0 over Arsenal but the Blues failed to extend that lead or end up holding it. They fell 2-1.

So many of Chelsea’s many loan deals involve younger players unable to break into the first-team squad. For example, defender Matt Miazga, who recently returned to Major League Soccer with FC Cincinnati, was part of the Chelsea organization for five years and has been loaned to five different teams.

It’s conceivable that Chelsea could loan Pulisic out to United to give him more playing time and a chance to increase his value, which is currently expected to be below the $73m Chelsea paid Borussia Dortmund in 2019.

Certainly USMNT fans – and squad management, including head coach Gregg Berhalter – would love to see Pulisic in a position where he plays games and makes a difference.

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In four seasons at Chelsea, Pulisic has made 76 Premier League appearances and scored 19 goals. When healthy and available, he has compiled superior stats on his main rival for the season, Germany’s Kai Havertz. Havertz has been healthy before.

At the start of the 2021/22 season, Sirius XM analyst Tom Rennie told SN: “I think the injuries are hugely important because it’s so important for everyone in the sport to be fit and available for selection. With the turnaround in games for Chelsea, they will play maybe 70 games every 4½ days this season. That’s a lot of games and players will get hurt. But you want to miss a game or two, not five to eight.”

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Shortly after Rennie said so, Pulisic injured himself with the USMNT in a World Cup qualifier in early September. He missed two months. He scored one of Chelsea’s most spectacular goals of the season in a draw in early January that ultimately helped prevent Liverpool from winning the Premier League title and secured the Blues third place.

But the off-season acquisition of England international star Raheem Sterling from Manchester City further threatened Pulisic’s place in the line-up.

Manchester United may be ready to take on Pulisic but unwilling to meet Chelsea’s likely asking price. A loan with an option to buy would give MUFC a chance to see if the player can be of value as the club are believed to be looking to bail out of their current plight. The Red Devils have the worst record in the Premier League, with zero points and a goal difference of -5 after two games and a date with last season’s runners-up Liverpool next up.

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