Former Chelsea Star Christian Pulisic Urged to Make Manchester United Move
Former Manchester United and United States goalkeeper Tim Howard has publicly advocated for Christian Pulisic to return to the Premier League, specifically suggesting a move to Manchester United could elevate the American forward to "another level" in his career.
Pulisic's Journey from Chelsea to AC Milan Success
Christian Pulisic arrived at Chelsea in January 2019 with immense expectations following a £58 million transfer from Borussia Dortmund, making him the most expensive American footballer in history at the time. While he achieved Champions League glory with the Blues, Pulisic struggled with consistency and persistent injury problems during his tenure at Stamford Bridge, ultimately falling out of favor under manager Thomas Tuchel.
Since moving to AC Milan, Pulisic has successfully revitalized his career, establishing himself as one of Serie A's premier attacking talents. With eight goals and three assists in league play this season, the United States international has been instrumental in Milan's push for Champions League qualification under manager Massimiliano Allegri.
Howard's Comparison to Premier League Legends
"I'm going to put him in a very high class here... Kevin De Bruyne and Mohamed Salah, we now know the finished products," Howard stated on the Unfiltered Soccer podcast when discussing rumors linking Pulisic with Premier League clubs.
The former goalkeeper drew direct parallels between Pulisic's career trajectory and those of De Bruyne and Salah, both of whom left Chelsea early in their careers only to return as transformed, world-class players.
"They weren't good enough, apparently, so they went abroad," Howard explained. "They were the players that they were, they gained confidence, they did all those things, they came back to the Premier League and then it was game over, history was written."
Howard emphasized that Pulisic has followed a similar path: "He's put AC Milan on his back and he's been the best player in that league so now I think, from the physical, football maturity-side, he now comes back to the Premier League, and he gets slotted into a Manchester United, Arsenal, Liverpool, I think there's actually another level for him."
Premier League Interest and Physical Concerns
Pulisic's outstanding form in Italy has reportedly attracted attention from multiple Premier League giants including Manchester United, Arsenal, and Liverpool in recent months. Howard expressed particular confidence that these clubs would have clear plans for integrating the American forward rather than treating his acquisition as an experiment.
However, Howard's podcast co-host Landon Donovan raised concerns about Pulisic's ability to withstand the physical demands of the Premier League given his injury history.
"Christian is a phenomenal athlete but some of the athletes in the Premier League are monsters," Donovan cautioned. "And to do it 35, 40, 45 times a year at that pace is really hard. We see him break down a little from time to time. I don't know physically if he could do it every single week for two or three years like some of these guys because it's really hard."
The Decision Between Mid-Table and Top Clubs
Howard addressed the question of whether Pulisic might be better served joining a mid-table Premier League team rather than a top contender like Manchester United or Arsenal.
"It depends who you are," Howard explained. "If his eyes are on the prize of saying, 'Landon Donovan, Clint Dempsey... I want to put them in my wake, I want to be said in the same breath as those guys'... then he's going to look at this World Cup differently."
The former goalkeeper suggested that if Pulisic seeks consistent playing time as "the guy," a mid-table club might be preferable. However, if the forward wants to prove himself at the highest level after his Chelsea experience, a move to an elite club would be more appropriate.
"I don't think you can turn that down personally," Howard concluded regarding a potential move to a top Premier League side.
As Milan continues its Champions League qualification campaign, speculation about Pulisic's future intensifies, with the American star potentially facing a career-defining decision about whether to return to English football and which club might offer him the best platform for success.
