Brad Friedel has urged Christian Pulisic to leave Chelsea and go play football consistently elsewhere.
Pulisic, who cost the Blues £58million, has had an up and down few years at Stamford Bridge.
The 24-year-old winger has shown in patches the kind of levels that made him so highly-rated at Borussia Dortmund, but he’s never quite found the consistency in English football.
This season has been one of his toughest to date so far, scoring just once in 21 Chelsea appearances. He’s currently sidelined with a knee injury, too.
Friedel, who’s a former Premier League goalkeeper and United States international, has suggested that Pulisic’s best move could be a move away from West London.
The attacker’s contract at Chelsea expires in the summer of 2024, so he’s expecting a decision on his future soon.
When discussing Pulisic to the Sporting Post, Friedel said: “I’m not one of those people who says someone should leave if they’re not playing because I believe you need to fight for your place and prove your worth. But if there aren’t going to be opportunities, Christian is one of the most important players for the USMT so we’re going to want him to be playing consistently.
“He has a year left on his contract but I’m sure there is someone out there that will want him. Then it’s down to the money side. I’ve never spoken to him so I don’t know what he wants, whether wants to stay and fight for his place or if he wants a new challenge.
“It’s going to be one of those summers where either he is told he is in Chelsea’s plans and they offer him a new deal, or he gets sold. Looking at things I’m thinking it’s probably the latter and we’ll see him somewhere else which could be good for him to play consistently.”
ESPN recently claimed that Chelsea will make Pulisic available for sale in the summer transfer window.
The arrivals of Mykhailo Mudryk and Noni Madueke in the January transfer window show that the Blues are dissatisfied with their options in the wide positions.
In our view, Pulisic’s exit at the end of the season could be best for all parties.
The United States international, who did impress at the World Cup last year, definitely still has so much individual quality.
It feels like a fresh change in his club career could help him.
Meanwhile, Chelsea are moving in a different direction to try inject some goals into the forward line.
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