London: Borussia Dortmund are willing to strike a 70 million pounds deal with Chelsea or Liverpool for Christian Pulisic — as long as he stays in Germany until the summer.
Chelsea and Liverpool, along with Paris St-Germain, have a long-standing interest in the United States international, whose contract is due to expire in 2020. Dortmund are adamant the forward will not leave in January.
Chelsea would have to beat their record transfer, 57 million pounds for Alvaro Morata, to secure Pulisic. That may not be entirely attractive, given that the 20-year-old will have only 12 months remaining on his contract at the end of the season.
But Chelsea will also be well aware that they could face big competition for Pulisic if they wait until next summer to make their move.
Chelsea also have to consider that they may lose Eden Hazard and the arrival of Pulisic would at least soften that potential blow.
Hazard has conceded that Chelsea’s defeat by Tottenham Hotspur proved they are not fighting for the Premier League title this season, saying: “We are thinking about finishing in the top four, not to be the champions. We know [Manchester] City are not much better than Chelsea but they are better at the moment.
“In what areas are City better? A lot of things: possession; when they have chances, they score; maybe defensively they are better. They have top players.
“Is it due to their consistency as well, winning game after game? Yes, of course. They are in a good momentum since last year and we need to be back like this.”
Even if Hazard stays, Pulisic could take over from Willian and Pedro on the right of the team’s front three.
