Christian Pulisic could have left Chelsea this month, however, a knee injury may have inadvertently secured his short term future at the club.
The American forward has struggled to tie down a regular plae in the Blues starting XI under Graham Potter or previous incumbent Thomas Tuchel before him. The USMNT captain has been linked with a Stamford Bridge exit on numerous occasions, with the signings of Mykhailo Mudryk and Joao Felix on loan appearing to spell the end for his Chelsea career.
However, he may have had a reprieve, due to the knee injury he suffered at the beginning of January. Pulisic looks set to be out of action for a "couple of months" according to Potter and that makes any transfer move difficult.
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It has been reported by Fabrizio Romano that Chelsea had planned to sell Pulisic before a knee injury suffered by the USMNT winger derailed their plans. However, this did not stop the club securing deals to sign Mykhailo Mudrruk and Joao Felix who both play in a similar role on the left-wing to Pulisic.
Romano explained on the House of Champions podcast that the plan was to offload Pulisic this month amid the £89million ($110million) deal to sign Mudryk and the six-month loan for Felix.
The Italian journalist said: “About Pulisic, the problem is the injury,” Romano explained. “I think it was one of our first episodes here in the new year and we said keep an eye on Chelsea because if they sign a new winger, the plan is to sell Pulisic. That was the plan, from what I’m told.
“So to bring in a winger, Mudryk, and to let one player leave, and the player was Pulisic. Then the injury is creating a problem. Of course, with that kind of injury, almost two months out, it’s really difficult to move a player.
“That is why it is my expectation is for him to stay until the summer and probably move in the summer to another club.”
Pulisic is expected to be out for the next two months having suffered the injury against Manchester City earlier this month. Despite the rumours of his departure, he had made a run of starts following the World Cup after he had impressed for the USMNT as they made the last-16 in Qatar.
A deal could yet be made for Pulisic to leave, with Newcastle United, AC Milan and Borussia Dortmund touted as potential desitnation for the 24-year-old. However, with the knee injury which is currently ruling him out of action it is likely that he will only make a move away in the summer transfer window.
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