Christian Pulisic is reportedly leaning in favour of a move to Liverpool rather than Chelsea in light of the more realistic route to regular minutes.
The Borussia Dortmund start is expected to leave the club in 2019 after seeing negotiations over a new contract break down.
Liverpool and Chelsea are set to play tug-of-war over his services in light of suggestions Dortmund would be willing to agree a £70million deal in January, on the condition that he stays put until the end of the season.
Whilst Chelsea have seemingly made the first move in regards to tabling an offer, it appears Pulisic’s preference is a move to Anfield.
Speaking on The Transfer Window Podcast, Football consultant Ian McGarry said: “We reported last week on Chelsea’s moves (to get Pulisic).”
“What has transpired since is that speaking to a member of the players’ representative team, I’ve ascertained that Pulisic himself at 19 fears that he may get lost in the Chelsea flood of talented attacking midfielders.”
“And unless one of the major players moves on – and I think he’s looking at Eden Hazard and the possibility of him leaving next summer, which is certainly a possibility but not yet confirmed – then he feels his future would be better, or more optimistic, at Liverpool where he sees there’s a need and desire to play that 4-3-3 system that Jurgen Klopp favours.”
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Klopp’s admiration for Pulisic dates back to their brief time together during the latter stages of his time in charge at Dortmund.
The German tried to sign the forward as a teenager back in 2016, but saw an £11million bid rebuffed amid the American’s emergence as one of the most intriguing prospects in European football.
Links between the two have since refused to disappear, with Pulisic having regularly been tipped as an ideal long-term replacement for Philippe Coutinho. Despite featuring primarily as a winger at club level so far in his career, the 20-year-old has also hinted at the traits typical of a central playmaker.
It would come as a huge surprise were Klopp not to push Chelsea hard for his signature.