Christian Pulisic could snub Manchester United after his stance on his Chelsea future was revealed in a report.
Manchester United recently began exploring a loan deal for Chelsea winger Pulisic. The USA international is not a regular starter at Stamford Bridge, so it gave him something to think about.
A number of ways of structuring the deal have been reported in the media. For example, there has been talk of a shock swap involving Harry Maguire. However, other sources have indicated that Manchester United are against such a prospect.
But their interest in Pulisic remains, even if they are focusing on Antony and Cody Gakpo for the time being.
Yet if they do firm up their plans for Pulisic, Manchester United could be snubbed. According to the Daily Mail, Pulisic has reflected and decided on two preferable outcomes.
First, the winger is willing to fight for his place at Chelsea. Thomas Tuchel still has a place in his plans for Pulisic, even if his former Borussia Dortmund pupil would prefer more starts.
There could be a bigger chance for that to happen, though, if Callum Hudson-Odoi and Hakim Ziyech leave. Pulisic would be one of Chelsea’s stronger remaining options, alongside summer signing, Raheem Sterling.
Alternatively, if he is to leave himself, Pulisic would rather find another club competing in the Champions League. It is a tournament he won, of course, with Chelsea in 2021.
Manchester United cannot offer him Champions League involvement this season, despite their pedigree as a club. Pulisic would be less keen on dropping into the Europa League.
No other potential suitors for the 23-year-old – whether involved in the Champions League or otherwise – are named in the report.
Pulisic still at Chelsea crossroads
It will soon become clear whether anyone else makes a move for Pulisic before the transfer window closes at the start of September.
Time is running out, so it seems Pulisic could be continuing at Chelsea. Given the other changes in his position, he might have more prominence.
But he has been a substitute for Chelsea’s first two Premier League games this season. Coming on both times, he has clocked up 30 minutes of action so far.
His desire for more starts might not be satisfied if the current trend continues. Hence, he will still have to keep his future in mind.
Whether he will get a move ahead of the World Cup remains to be seen. In all honesty, he should have a fairly secure place in the USA squad anyway, having earned nine of his 51 caps for the country in 2022.
But he will want to go into the tournament with a better rhythm at club level. It will be intriguing to see what he would manage to achieve with Chelsea in the coming months if he was to stay, or how he would perform elsewhere.
Two years remain on his contract in west London. With that in mind, a sale may make more sense for Chelsea than a loan, although they could extend his contract to sanction the latter method.
It could all be hypothetical though if he continues with the club.