Christian Pulisic admitted that he is open to a Premier League move in the future and that has reignited another round of transfer rumors linking him to Chelsea, Tottenham Hotspur and Liverpool. The new face of American soccer, or “Wonder Boy” as Alexi Lalas called him, is set to feature for the USA against England at Wembley Stadium tonight.
The Sun suggests that a solid showing for the Stars and Stripes in the friendly, which has now become essentially more a Wayne Rooney quasi-testimonial match, could lead to a three horse race to sign him in the January transfer window.
Who’s leading the derby to acquire the 20-year-old? Depends on who you talk to.
The Guardian reports that the Blues are currently the frontrunners, while the Sun and ESPN claim Anfield has the current advantage. Jurgen Klopp has said that he’s open to the idea of a reunion. Pulisic is still under contract at Borussia Dortmund until 2020 but he’s not really finding his form right now under Lucien Favre and doesn’t seem to be fitting in.
He was even dropped during BVB’s win over Bayern Munich in Der Klassiker (“German Clasico”). Perhaps this has something to do with why he’s taken a slightly different tone when discussing the transfer rumors that incessantly swirl around him now. In the summer, during BVB’s exhibition tour of the United States, he consistently gave the yearbook kind of answer.
In contrast, here’s what he said (h/t that Guardian article) this week:
“England, the Premier League, is a league where lots of kids dream of playing so there is no reason why maybe one day I won’t play here. As you can see, we are having a great year at Dortmund and I am enjoying every moment of that. Then when the time comes for me to talk in the breaks about my future, then that’s when those things happen.”
“Like I said before, reading these articles [about me], I tend to stay away from that stuff. I know it is going to be there but it is not my priority.”
It’s clear that he’s aware tonight is an opportunity for him to audition for his next gig. He may be playing in front of future club teammates, supporters and maybe even in his next home market.
Paul M. Banks runs The Sports Bank.net, which is partnered with News Now. Banks, a former writer for NBC Chicago.com and Chicago Tribune.com, regularly appears as a guest pundit on WGN CLTV and co-hosts the “Let’s Get Weird, Sports” podcast on SB Nation.
He also contributes sociopolitical essays to Lineups.com and Chicago Now. Follow him on Twitter and Instagram. The content of his cat’s Instagram account is unquestionably superior to his.