Christian Pulisic has had a miserable start to his career at Stamford Bridge after signing for Chelsea in a big-money deal in January. Although he spent the second half of last campaign on loan at Borussia Dortmund, the youngster has failed to impress Frank Lampard this season.
The American international has often been overlooked by the new manager and with the return of Callum Hudson-Odoi, it’s highly unlikely he will be able to make a mark anytime soon. And in this article, we will talk about three players Chelsea could have signed instead of Pulisic, earlier this year.
Leon Bailey
Bayer Leverkusen’s Leon Bailey could have been an ideal alternative for Pulisic, largely due to the fact that the Jamaican international is a hard-working individual. He is willing to close down the opposition and is blessed with the sheer amount of pace that makes him a scourge on the counter.
Another key asset of Bailey’s gameplay is that the 22-year-old is quite versatile as well. Unlike Pulisic, he can feature on both flanks and has even appeared in a withdrawn defensive role at times. His work-rate coupled with his discipline could have made him an ideal fit for Lampard’s tactical philosophy at Chelsea.
Julian Brandt
Another Leverkusen star who makes this list is Julian Brandt. The winger is currently rated as one of Bundesliga’s most promising young attackers, having enjoyed immense success at Leverkusen ever since his breakout campaign.
Indeed, Brandt is quite experienced for his age, having already featured in 172 Bundesliga matches. He is primarily known for his creativity and technical prowess that allows him to link-up with teammates and create scoring opportunities in the final third.
Unlike Pulisic, Brandt looks to get involved in the game and not just isolate himself on the flanks. His willingness to get onto the ball has already made him a feared attacker in the Bundesliga. And Chelsea had the opportunity to sign him in January.
At the moment, Brandt plays for Borussia Dortmund, having joined the Black and Yellows for a bargain fee of just €25 million in the summer.
Raphael Guerreiro
Raphael Guerreiro could still be an option for Chelsea next summer after an eventful summer transfer window that saw him linked with a move to Paris Saint-Germain.
Regardless, the Blues could have pursued the Portuguese international in January even though Borussia Dortmund would have been reluctant about selling him. The ex-Lorient star is an ideal fit Lampard’s setup as he can not only feature as a winger but can also cover the left-back role.
Another key feature of Guerreiro’s game is that he is a tactically astute playmaker, who is also quite proficient from set-pieces. Hence, he would have been a better option than Pulisic.
