Football

Sarri swoops to sign Dortmund star Pulisic

Published

8 years ago

December 17, 2018

Editor

Chelsea will bolster Maurizio Sarri’s squad by signing Borussia Dortmund wide player Christian Pulisic, although a fee still has to be agreed with the Bundesliga leaders.

The 20-year-old American has indicated that he wants to join Chelsea in a deal worth around £60million next summer and it could be confirmed as early as next month.

However, it will raise further doubts over the future of 18-year-old Callum Hudson-Odoi, who is being pursued by Bayern Munich and whose contract ends in 2020.

Hudson-Odoi is the brightest hope from the much-vaunted Chelsea academy but has seen his pathway to the first team blocked.

With RB Leipzig and Monaco also tracking Hudson-Odoi, Chelsea risk losing him for a minimal UEFA compensation fee in 18 months time, likely to be around £2m.

If he was sold in January they might get £25m and so will need to consider any offers if they want to back Sarri in the transfer market and comply with UEFA’s Financial Fair Play.

Sarri has insisted he wants Hudson-Odoi to stay but with Willian, Pedro and Eden Hazard ahead of him as wide players, the arrival of Pulisic will push him further down the pecking order.

Chelsea will stress that Pulisic will play on the right, with Hudson-Odoi predominantly left-sided.

And managing director Marina Granovskaia would be reluctant to let Hudson-Odoi leave as he is seen as the player most likely to be the first of the Roman Abramovich era to progress from the academy to being a first-team star.

But with only three starts this season, he has seen team-mates from the England Under 17 World Cup team move ahead of him.

Jadon Sancho, 18, who is pushing Pulisic out of the team at Dortmund, has made 11 starts in the Bundesliga and Champions League this season, scored six goals and has made his senior England debut under Gareth Southgate.

Sarri has challenged his players to prove they are the real deal by following victory against champions Manchester City with a win against Brighton. Sarri said: ‘We need to confirm our motivation and determination like we showed in the last match. This match for us is really very important. Maybe it is the most important in this season.’

The Italian also insisted N’Golo Kante will continue in a wider role after being vindicated by his goal and excellent display against City. Sarri added: ‘If you buy Jorginho and have Cesc Fabregas, I think you have to play 4-3-3.

‘If you play 4-3-3 in my style of football, then the central midfielder is a very technical player. Jorginho is very fast in the mind. He is able to play one touch or two touch. Fabregas also is technically really very good. I think Kante in my style has to play (in his new role).’