Liverpool Echo journalist James Pearce has given his insight into when Liverpool could finally get a deal done for Christian Pulisic.
The Borussia Dortmund winger has been linked with us on a number of occasions in recent months, but nothing has come to fruition so far.
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In a question-and-answer session in the Liverpool Echo, however, Pearce says he expects LFC to come back in for the USA international next summer, when his value would likely tumble as a deal for big money now doesn’t make much sense.
Asked if he felt Pulisic was a target for Liverpool, Pearce gave this response:
“Yes I do. Klopp’s admiration for Pulisic is well known. He tried and failed to bring him to Liverpool two years ago when Dortmund refused to sell.
“Pulisic has developed a lot since then but he’s still far from the finished article. He only has two years left on his contract and if he doesn’t sign an extension I’d expect LFC to be keen next summer.
“The price tag would probably be more realistic then. As it stands at the moment he wouldn’t get into Klopp’s starting line up. Spending £60m/£70m on a squad player makes little sense.”
This seems perfectly sensible and in keeping with how we’ve done our dealings in recent times, with Naby Keita finally on our books despite us initially not paying over-the-odds for him.
This would also be backed up by a recent report in the Times that stated Pulisic would likely cost around £62million – surely too much for a talented, but unproven player.
With Xherdan Shaqiri coming in and impressing, a new attacker shouldn’t necessarily be a big priority for us between now and the end of the transfer window anyway.