Christian Pulisic has been given an Arsenal example of how his Chelsea career could still turn around under Mauricio Pochettino. The American is expected to make a move away from Stamford Bridge this summer alongside a host of his teammates but the arrival of the former Tottenham manager complicates things.
Pochettino has not had the chance to train with his squad or to speak with them fully since the end of the season and will now have to wait until just weeks before the pre-season tour of America before he gets to work on the pitch. Nevertheless, it hasn't stopped outgoing progress from being made.
For Pulisic it comes at a time in which he is first needed on crucial international duty with his country. The 24-year-old winger will play the finals of the CONCACAF Nations League for USMNT before taking time away from the game as a whole. "Yeah, it's a tough one," he said when asked how the overhanging issue affects him.
"As I said, right now it's in the back of my head, I'm not even thinking about where I want to be next season, I'm focused on the national team, I want to be here, I want to win games, that's the sole focus of mine.
"When the time comes I need to also rest after this, get away from the game a bit and enjoy my break, see my family and all those kinds of things. Once it's time to make decisions and see what options I have then I'll deal with it, until then I'm just focused here."
There could still be a way back into form for the Blues, though, if he was to stay, says former USMNT goalkeeper Kasey Keller. He explained that it looks like a departure is the most likely but not to rule anything out. "It sounds like it’s the latter. But I have seen players resurrect their careers as clubs, look at Granit Xhaka," he told BestGamblingSites.
READ MORE: Chelsea news and transfers LIVE: £172m done deal, Kai Havertz U-turn, Neymar contact, Kante contract
"Fans wanted him gone, the club did too but had two good years. I want players to be at a place that they’re going to play. Is that at Chelsea for Christian?"
Pulisic, like Xhaka, has been booed and ridiculed by his own fans consistently. Despite flashes of form that demonstrate why Chelsea paid £58m ($72m) for him in 2019, he has never been able to recreate the levels of performance that he reached post-Covid-19 lockdown in the summer of 2020.
Since then he has been through three permanent managers and is approaching his fourth in just four full seasons in London. Pochettino could hand him a new lease of life, though, and has become famed for his ability to improve players.
There may not be the time for such a Xhaka-like resurgence for Pulisic in this case. Whereas the Swiss international had been trusted with captaincy and was a more experienced head when Mikel Arteta came into Arsenal, Pulisic is still only 24 despite his mountain of professional games since his professional debut as a teenager.
He has also struggled to find consistency throughout his time whereas Xhaka had started well for the Gunners. "If the new manager has made a decision and he’s probably not going to get the chance, then go somewhere and play," Keller continued.
"He’s going to need to make a decision. Is the club going to help with the salary? It’s up to him. Every player needs to be able to showcase themselves, week in, week out. I wanted to play, it wasn’t about the bank balance. I always wanted to push myself."
There is no shortage in options for Pulisic. Napoli, Juventus and AC Milan are all keen on taking him on this summer whilst Manchester United have previously shown their own admiration. Newcastle were also amongst those teams but have since moved away from a deal, reportedly.
It has also been said that Pulisic would be willing to take a pay cut in order to seal a move and that his price may well be as low as £20m ($24m). Everything, it seems, is geared towards his exit and but for a remarkable turn of events, there will be no grand send-off like Xhaka was afforded.
READ NEXT:
Mauricio Pochettino has already given Eden Hazard stance as $17m Chelsea transfer price emerges
Christian Pulisic reveals what he knows about Chelsea transfer as new links emerge
