Dortmund would love to keep Michy Batshuayi at the club next season. Chelsea supposedly want Christian Pulisic in return. The decision is simple.
Chelsea have a bit of a log jam at the striker position. Currently on the books are Alvaro Morata, Michy Batshuayi, Olivier Giroud, and Tammy Abraham. Michy Batshuayi is the most likely to depart, especially if any big name striker linked to Chelsea comes in.
Batshuayi would simply not start over the likes of Robert Lewandowski, Gonzalo Higuain, or Mauro Icardi if any of those rumors come to fruition. And luckily for Chelsea, the club Batshuayi is on loan at would be keen on making his loan permanent.
But Chelsea would reportedly want American Christian Pulisic as part of any deal. And given the choice between giving Batshuayi a chance at the Blues and swapping him for Pulisic, the decision is easy; Chelsea should make the swap.
The only way Batshuayi has a future at Chelsea is if Antonio Conte departs and the Blues do not buy any new strikers. Even then, it is unknown if he could take the starting spot from Morata. He would have to fight Giroud for backup first and then see if he could fight his way into the starting XI. Given he left on loan because he was sick of battling for time, it is unlikely he would want to return and do so again under any manager.
With Dortmund, Batshuayi has a club that wants him and can guarantee him playing time. He is by and far the best striker on their books and is loved by the fans. Without him, Dortmund are practically strikerless. They would be keen to make the move permanent even if they would have to sacrifice Pulisic in the meantime.
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Dortmund have plenty of wingers. And though Pulisic plays plenty and is incredibly young, he would not be missed. Dortmund have the depth to deal with his departure. They do not have it to deal with Batshuayi’s.
But why would Chelsea want Pulisic? Afterall, his stats are not world beating and his form took a severe dip after the United States failed to qualify for the World Cup.
The first reason why Chelsea should want Pulisic is potential. Before the World Cup fiasco, Pulisic was in excellent form. At only 19, he can improve immensely under the right coach. Thomas Tuchel’s departure from Dortmund had an effect on the young American and the coaches that followed were not ideal for his development.
Chelsea can offer him a fresh start in a new league and, even though managerial turnover is high, the managers are often of higher quality. Pulisic could grow a great deal in the Premier League, for which he is already well equip.
Furthermore, Pulisic fills a need for Chelsea. The Blues need a right winger to replace the aging Willian and Pedro. At 19, Pulisic could stay at the Blues for years. His production is already similar to both this season but he has the added bonus of time to improve. Willian and Pedro will not improve further.
The final reason why Pulisic for Batshuayi makes so much sense is marketing. Pulisic is America’s best player. His time at Dortmund turned many neutral American fans into Dortmund fans. They bought his kit, watched every game, and became immersed in the culture.
Chelsea could see a similar windfall. Premier League fandom in the United States is more settled than most leagues, but it would be a massive selling point to have the star American player at the Blues. New fans would lean towards the Blues because of Pulisic. Chelsea could then establish a deeper foothold in the mostly untapped well of America.
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Batshuayi showed plenty of promise and is a good striker, but the circumstances are not perfect for his return. Meanwhile, Pulisic would fill a need and bring a horde of new fans to Chelsea. If both players are keen, the Blues should not hesitate to bring Pulisic on board while waving goodbye to Batshuayi.