Christian Pulisic to Man Utd: Chelsea attacker solves one huge problem
Robin Bairner
- 17 Aug 2022 06:50 CDT
- 12 min read
Manchester United have been linked with a shock loan move for Chelsea attacker Christian Pulisic late in the transfer window.
The Athletic reports that the Red Devils want to sign the US international on loan – and he is reportedly open to the move.
Pulisic’s Chelsea future has been hanging in the balance throughout the summer transfer window, despite the fact that he has been used off the bench in Chelsea’s two competitive matches this season.
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Nevertheless, the 23-year-old former Dortmund star could be handed a more prominent role at Old Trafford, where he could solve one major problem that Man Utd have endured for months.
Cristiano Ronaldo has been entirely relied upon for goals over the course of the last year, and the arrival of Pulisic would see that burden lifted from him to some extent.
The American, after all, knows where the net is.
Pulisic packs goal punch
In the Premier League last season, he scored six times for Chelsea in 22 Premier League outings. Given that he only played 1,285 minutes in the top flight, that equates roughly to a goal for every two hours of pitch time.
Compare that to Man Utd’s other main options at present. Marcus Rashford scored just four goals in the Premier League last season and Jadon Sancho managed only three. Between them, they have found the net just once every 494 minutes in the Premier League since the beginning of the 2021/22 campaign.
Rashford’s barren run, of course, stretches back longer. Since January 2021, he has found the net only eight times in the league. This is one of the reasons that Man Utd are looking at their alternatives in the wide attacking areas, with the American capable of positioning himself anywhere across this attacking midfield line.
Pulisic v Premier League wingers in finishing: 2021/22
According to data analytics experts, Pulisic concluded the 2021/22 Premier League season as they fifth-strongest winger in the league when it came to finishing. Rashford was middle ranking, coming in 45th, but Sancho was near the bottom at 59th.
Pulisic is clearly a more prolific player than either of the England internationals in present form, and for that reason alone is worth Man Utd studying to lift some of the burden from Ronaldo.
