Jamie Carragher has suggested that Newcastle United transfer target Christian Pulisic’s ‘time has come and gone’ at Chelsea, as he told CBS Sports on Paramount+ (25/10/22 at 10:30 pm).
The Liverpool legend stated that he has ‘never questioned’ Pulisic’s ability, but ‘it hasn’t quite happened for him’ in the colours of Chelsea following his transfer from Borussia Dortmund in 2019.
He added that perhaps the USA international should follow in the footsteps of Timo Werner and leave the London club, such as dropping down a level, in order to earn those much-needed regular minutes.
Wener opted to head back to Germany and re-sign for his former club RB Leipzig in the summer, so perhaps a return to Dortmund could be on the cards for Pulisic?
Or moving to another Premier League team? There are suggestions that the likes of Leeds United and Newcastle United are keen on the 24-year-old and he is open to a transfer to St James’ Park.
Either way, after Pulisic started and assisted for Chelsea during their Champions League win against Salzburg on Tuesday night, he questioned what could be next for the versatile forward.
On if Pulisic should be looking to move: “100%,” said Carragher. “I do scratch my head at times when I see certain players at a club for a long time and they never really get into the team,” said Carragher.
“That’s why I think Thierry (Henry) says he respects Timo Wener (for leaving Chelsea in search of regular minutes). Rather than sitting on the bench for a year or two and seeing his contract out. He has gone back to somewhere where he is going to play week in and week out.
“I think Pulisic is at the stage now where there have been a few managerial changes. It looks like he is getting more of a chance with Potter, but not just him and I think Graham Potter changes it every game, so everyone is getting a chance. He may feel he can prove to the manager that he can be in that recognised XI.
“But he has been there a few years and it hasn’t quite happened for him, for whatever reason. Maybe Dortmund is a level down from Chelsea, who is a team that is probably trying to win the Champions League. We know Pulisic was part of that.
“Eventually, you have to make that decision. I don’t think he can continue to be in that position that he has been in for the last two or three years. I have never questioned Pulisic’s actual ability. Some of the things I have seen him do. Some of the goals I have seen him score. It’s consistencies and injuries. I think it will be difficult for him to get that run in the team. Maybe his time has come and gone. He’s in the early stages of Graham Potter, so who knows.”
LAST CHANCE UNDER POTTER
As Graham Potter is proving at Stamford Bridge and he has done throughout his career, he plays Pep roulette more than Pep Guardiola himself.
From that perspective, more minutes will come, but can he cement those regular starts like Mason Mount, Kai Havertez or Raheem Sterling?
Whatever happens, come the January transfer window, if he is in the same boat, then he simply has to secure a transfer away from Chelsea.
Maybe, during the recently-concluded summer transfer window, Newcastle weren’t as appealing as they are now because Eddie Howe’s side are sitting in the Champions League places and things might just get better for the Magpies.
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