Ahead of the 2020-21 campaign, Chelsea and Frank Lampard are taking full advantage of no longer having a transfer ban. Having finished fourth last season and losing the FA Cup final to Arsenal, the Blues have sought to strengthen, particularly offensively. As well as Hakim Ziyech and Timo Werner, reports suggest that Bayer Leverkusen’s Kai Havertz could soon be swapping the Bundesliga for the Premier League. So, let’s take a look at where these attack-minded additions leave Christian Pulisic.
Quality in Depth Could Raise his Game
Having lost Pedro and Willian on free transfers, few can dispute that Chelsea needed to bring in offensive reinforcements. Interestingly, the Blues still have a lot of options in their ranks. Alongside those mentioned above, Lampard also has the luxury of selecting Callum Hudson-Odoi, Olivier Giroud, Ross Barkley, Ruben Loftus-Cheek, and Tammy Abraham.
For Pulisic, logic would suggest that he will retain his position down the left-hand side of the field. However, that isn’t completely guaranteed. Should Lampard opt to use the seemingly-incoming Havertz as a deep-lying forward, then Werner may be preferred on the left-hand side to provide a goalscoring threat. For RB Leipzig, the 24-year-old often drifted over to the left to leave space for Yussuf Poulsen. That said, Julian Nagelsmann did opt to play Werner down the left on five occasions last season. During that time, the German scored five goals and provided one assist, according to Transfermarkt.
One thing is for sure, with all of these exciting additions, the American will undoubtedly have to raise his game further if he is to retain his place in the starting side. Interestingly, when you compare the xGChain90 (expected goals of each possession the player’s involved in over 90 minutes) from last season, Werner’s sat at 1.13, while Pulisic’s was 0.87, as per Understat. Statistically, it’s clear that the 21-year-old will need to take his game to new heights in 2020-21 should Lampard consider Werner for the left flank.
Shaping Up to Be the Blues’ Next Eden Hazard
In Pulisic’s defense, the numbers don’t perhaps tell the full story regarding his Chelsea career so far. At times, the 21-year-old has been the spark that Chelsea have been lacking following the sale of Hazard to Real Madrid. Furthermore, it didn’t help Pulisic that he missed 14 games for the Blues last season, 11 of which came through an adductor muscle tear.
While Pulisic still has some way to go to become Chelsea’s next Hazard, time is on his side, and the signs so far have been very encouraging. In 25 appearances in 2019-20, the 21-year-old scored nine goals in addition to setting up a further four. Back in 2018-19, Hazard recorded a goal-involvement total of 31, 16 coming through goals scored. Although Pulisic is yet to reach those numbers, his talent undoubtedly suggests that he could reach those heights later in his career.
Furthermore, from an individual standpoint, Chelsea may have one of soccer’s most marketable players on their hands should they choose to explore that avenue. As well as raising his own profile, Pulisic could help to take the Blues to American audiences. In the US, soccer is becoming more popular across many states, as showcased by the West Virginia sports betting sites listed at BonusFinder. At FanDuel Sportsbook, a mobile-friendly operator, prospective bettors can now bet on various Premier League markets, including Chelsea’s opening match of the 2020-21 season against Brighton.
He Could be One of English Football’s Best Players
Although nothing is ever guaranteed in football, few can argue that Pulisic has the talent to win the sport’s most sought-after prizes. What’s perhaps most frightening for other top-flight clubs is that Chelsea’s recruitment will likely spur the 21-year-old to work harder and develop even faster. In turn, the Blues could have a global star on their hands.
