Christian Pulisic to Manchester United: Latest reports on potential transfer and how he would fit at Old Trafford

American Christian Pulisic is one of the big names in Europe who still has a chance of switching clubs before the summer transfer window closes shut on September 1. With just days remaining before the deadline, he’s now being linked with another big club.

After Juventus, Newcastle and Liverpool, the latest team said to be interested is Manchester United, who have lost their first two matches of the Premier League campaign for the first time since 1992, and are in a desperate situation to revamp the squad. 

Chelsea are also reshuffling the deck, having made a host of changes in the defensive unit and up front in the attacking ranks. That could set the stage for a deal that suits both sides if the two American-owned clubs are willing to negotiate. The early reports point to a potential loan deal for the player who joined Chelsea in the summer of 2019 from Borussia Dortmund.

The Sporting News brings you the latest on the the links between Pulisic and Manchester United as the summer transfer deadline draws nearer.

DECOURCY: Why a Pulisic loan move to Man United could make sense

Latest on Pulisic to Man United

The links first emerged on August 17 as Andy Mitten of The Athletic reported the Red Devils want Pulisic on loan for the coming season.

Exclusive. Manchester United want Christian Pulisic on loan. Player up for it. For ⁦@TheAthleticUK⁩ https://t.co/nXzbfUp12T

— Andy Mitten (@AndyMitten) August 17, 2022

At the same time, Ben Jacobs of CBS Sports stated that Pulisic has taken counsel from USMNT head coach Gregg Berhalter who instructed the American star to search for more minutes on the field at the club level. Jacobs stated that Pulisic is intrigued by Serie A, having spoken to international teammate Weston McKennie about possibilities at Juventus, but so far no offer from Italian clubs has materialized.

Fabrizio Romano also told CBS podcast Que Golazo that Christian Pulisic is “on the list” of Man United manager Erik ten Hag. However, new Chelsea owner Todd Boehly is an important player in the story, and the American businessman is hesitant to loan players to “important” clubs around Europe.

TalkSPORT journalist Alex Crooke also reported that Chelsea would be up for letting Pulisic leave, but stated that acquiring the American “wouldn’t be a progressive-type signing for Man United.”

Finally, German journalist Florian Plettenburg added a report of his own, saying that Manchester United are in for Pulisic along with Newcastle, Juventus, and Atletico Madrid. Plettenburg says no formal offers have been made, and contrary to other reports, Tuchel actually wants to keep the American, but he needs more playing time.

However, according to Paul Tenorio of The Athletic on August 29, Pulisic will stay at Chelsea this summer. Blues’ ownership turned down the opportunity to find a loan deal for the summer, with Manchester United and Newcastle interested plus Champions League clubs in Italy and Spain. This has reportedly left Pulisic dismayed, as he hoped to find a solution to his decreasing minutes. Pulisic has not started any of the first four matches of the season for Chelsea, coming off the bench for each game, totaling 72 minutes.

Christian Pulisic contract, salary at Chelsea

Key to this Pulisic transfer saga is the American’s contract situation at Chelsea, with just two years left on his current deal.

That’s the ideal time for the Blues to make a determination on his status at Stamford Bridge. If they let him get down to just a single year left in June 2023, his transfer value would decrease significantly.

Pulisic has not signed a contract extension at Chelsea, still on his initial five-year contract signed when he arrived from Borussia Dortmund in 2019. Chelsea shelled out £58 million ($73m / €67.5m) for Pulisic that summer, a 20-year-old kid with raw talent in the Bundesliga.

According to Spotrac, Pulisic’s contract affords him a salary of £150,000 per week, which amounts to about £7.8 million per year ($9.4m).

MORE: Man United reportedly targeting another USMNT player

Christian Pulisic goals, stats for Chelsea

Coming into the 2022/23 season, Pulisic had been a squad player for Chelsea, unable to secure a truly consistent starting role but not relegated to simply a bench option either.

Pulisic made 115 total appearances for Chelsea across his first three seasons with the club, scoring 25 goals and assisting 19 more. The bulk of those goals (19) came in his 76 Premier League appearances.

He has made a further 21 appearances in the Champions League, scoring five goals and assisting five more.

Christian Pulisic stats at Chelsea

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USMNT players at Manchester United

Christian Pulisic joining Manchester United would make him the fifth American to play for Manchester United in the club’s history.

The first was Jim Brown in the 1930s, a Scottish-born player who made two appearances for the U.S. national team and appeared across two seasons for Manchester United.

The most recent was U.S. goalkeeper Tim Howard, who joined Manchester United from Major League Soccer’s MetroStars in 2003 and made 77 appearances for the club before moving to Everton.