Pundit Noel Whelan has told Newcastle United to make their move for Christian Pulisic after it emerged the American is a Magpies target.
The Lowdown: Lacklustre in London
Since securing a switch to Stamford Bridge back in 2019, Pulisic has failed to hit the heights that were expected.
In fairness, the USA captain made an impressive start, registering nine goals and four assists from 25 appearances under Frank Lampard. But as a result of not being trusted with a starting role by previous manager Thomas Tuchel and now current boss Graham Potter, Pulisic may be forced to switch sides in a bid for regular minutes.
And Newcastle are set to offer the speedster a way out, with reports over the weekend revealing PIF want to make Pulisic their next ‘statement signing’.
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The Latest: Get it done
Asked by Football Insider about the Magpies’ interest in the Chelsea outcast, former Premier League forward Whelan was full of praise for the potential deal.
“Absolutely. He’s still at a very tender age. We’ve seen flashes of brilliance, we’ve seen good performances at the World Cup.
“He’s the type of player Newcastle should be looking at.
“He will benefit from playing more regularly in a top side. I don’t think he’s getting the right amount of game time right now to really show what he can do.
“Newcastle will only benefit, as well, from having more options. He can play through the middle, and he can play on both sides.
“He’s got pace, and an eye for a goal – it’s a no-brainer. If they can get him in January, it’d give them a great chance of staying in that top four bracket.”
The Verdict: Right call?
We think Whelan is absolutely spot on – the signing of a player of Pulisic’s star status would represent a big coup for the Magpies, not only improving the starting XI but also the depth at Eddie Howe’s disposal due to his versatility.
The £150k-per-week star, dubbed by ‘fantastic’ by his former national team boss Jurgen Klinsmann, would bring a big boost in their battle for Champions League qualification, so this is indeed a no brainer if Howe and co can make this happen.