Listed as a potential Liverpool target in a January transfer guide from The Guardian. “It’s not about how many strikers,” Klopp has said. “We do not have many wingers.”
This interest from the bin dippers is worrisome to me. TT does appear very committed to playing him, but how safe is TT languishing just off the CL spots? Pool could get him and he could easily end up a fringe player to the first team for a year or so. The PL is very physical and a very results oriented league, not known as patient. There is no guarantee he will continue to see playing time at Dortmund the second half, but based on this half season it is probable. On the financial side Dortmund has a fairly low wage structure compared to a top PL side. I think he probably has to make a decision this summer, sign or Dortmund looks for a buyer type of decision. If it comes earlier so Dortmund can generate some revenue for the pieces they need to strengthen, or he just wants to play for Klopp, I hope he can continue to get minutes.
I think, and this has zero to do with Americans, the way to transfer into the EPL is to really be so expensive that they can't afford not to play you. You see these young, 16-22 talents get bought ALL the time and then they go on loan..maybe get 15 appearances over two years and it's back to the league they came from. If I was advising Pulisic (which I am obviously not), I would tell him to stay in Germany and not consider going elsewhere until the following happens: 1) Pulisic is not featuring in the first team. 2) Dortmund suffers a downturn of form and becomes a mid table team 3) His contract is near expiration and Dortmund cannot offer the best financial terms that the market would That's it. No reason to move until then. He can play in the Champions League and continue to develop in the Bundesliga. Since when has the EPL really developed an 18-21 year old attacking talent? That's the last place I would want an attacker at his age.
FWIW, Squawka Talker guest Greg Stobart says Pulisic to Liverpool is almost certain to happen at some point, but probably not this window. Klopp reportedly sees him as an ideal fit for a role in his system, so CP's pretty much tops on the wish list. Blood Red/Echo guys seem to see it the same way from what I've heard/read.
I know Klopp is the obvious draw but I imagine he'd do just as well if not better at Tottenham for a manager with a proven history of playing younger players and helping them completely fulfill their potential. Obviously I'm biased but if he's coming to the EPL he'd probably be better off at Spurs than just about any of the other top 6.
Dortmund to Spurs is too much of step-down. At least with Liverpool you get a team that is (1) currently competitive in its league; and (2) has a great history.
The Premiership buys young promising players not so much to turn them into top talent, but to stop their rivals from doing it. At least that's what it feels like of late.
and generally play shite soccer at the same time. The Prem looks like they play faster than they are able to play. Lots of turnovers, lots of really rough play.
I would not advise him to leave until he becomes a clear starter. It seems like Arsenal are going to come hard after Reus, if Alexis gets bought for silly money from China that could speed up the process. Dortmund should then invest first in a CB and keeping Auba. Maybe Dortmund only makes it into the Europa but he'd be getting major minutes at a high level with a club that values him and plays a very tactical style that suits him.
So long as they are making him spend significant time at some sort of RWB hybrid role, i don't know that it does suit him. I like when he has more freedom to roam or get forward.
Spurs have a history too you know . . . Only non-League club to win the F.A. Cup (in 1901) since the formation of the League pyramid. First English side to win a UEFA trophy (Cup Winner's Cup in 1963) First team to win the double in the 2oth century (1960-61) Seven F.A. Cups, UEFA Cup (twice), 1 Cup-Winner's Cup, four League Cups and two league titles
This threshold doesn't exist, the most expensive mistake a PL team can make is to be bad and then miss out on the payday of Champions League or, at the other end of the table, get relegated out of the gravy train. The actual correlation is that the best players tend to command the biggest fees - and no one spends £40m on a player they intend to be a back up - so usually end up playing more but the flip side is transfers like Benteke to Liverpool, Mangala to Man City where for whatever reason it doesn't work out as intended and the expensive player doesn't play.
I love how your examples are two people who played quite a bit (29 games in one year and 48 games in two years) as examples. I wasn't saying that large transfer fees promise that you'll start. I was saying that they do promise you playing time. Matt Miazga cost a couple mill and has played 2 times for Chelsea. He might never play for them again. I promise you if he had cost 40 million that wouldn't be the case. Your point about bigger fees is well taken, but it doesn't really negate my point. Take Borja at Swansea. He broke their transfer record this year and has been terrible. Still has played in 10+ games.
I agree that Pulisic is best off sticking with Dortmund for at least 1-2 more years, but: I guess you missed attacking talent 20 year-old Del Alli's 2 goals today, and 2 goals a few days ago for Tottenham; and 18 year-old Marcus Rashford @ Manchester United to name 2. No doubt playing time is at a premium in EPL, so fewer squads focus on youth development and promotion, but it happens, semi-regularly. Depends on coach and club. Also, Pulisic having shown he belongs not just in Bundesliga but also in his Champions League appearances, would not be brought in to be loaned out I suspect, as his price tag would put him above the usual young suspects who have that happen to them. Unless he accepted an offer from Chelsea, which is notorious for that. Anyway, agreed it is pretty clear that Pulisic's best interests are to stay at Dortmund for now; but even by next summer the bids could be so high that it is Dortmund which wants to pull the trigger. Right now, they clearly are signalling the money being bandied about in the $15m - $25m range is well below what it would take for them to accept an offer for Pulisic. When he's eventually bought for $35m +, someone's neck is on the line for spending that kind of money, so Pulisic would get many opportunities on the field to succeed I expect.
And, Tottenham is in Champion's League position (4th) at moment, playing great. Would be a bit of an upset if they hand onto that spot over City and United, but muuch stranger things have happened. And the way they play is close to Dortmund.