Chelsea signing Christian Pulisic suggests they know a thing or two

Chelsea opened the new year and the transfer window by announcing the purchase of Christian Pulisic for £57 million. The Blues would not make a move this big, this early unless they had pressing concerns in mind.

Chelsea veered from one of their usual habits in signing Christian Pulisic on the second day of the winter transfer window. We feel confident in saying Pulisic will be the most expensive purchase the Blues makes this January. This, then, is only the third time since 2003 that Chelsea’s first signing of a transfer window is the most expensive of that window. The others were Jose Bosingwa in 2008 and Eden Hazard in 2012.

At another time in Chelsea’s history this would be a sign of ambition and intent. But those are not defining characteristics of this club any more, particularly not in the transfer window. The Blues likely had two factors driving their sense of urgency to lock down Pulisic as early as possible.

First, Chelsea probably know whether FIFA will impose a transfer ban. Such decisions are usually communicated privately in advance of the public announcement. But the timing of such decisions are often unknown to the team in question. And since the ban will go into effect upon the public statement, Chelsea cannot afford any delays in closing deals.

For all they know the ban will could start tomorrow or it could start on January 30. Either way, they cannot wait for their usual round of deadline day signings. Every day is deadline day when FIFA is dangling their sword above your transfer windows. By moving early on Pulisic, they guarantee they have their most-coveted, long-term, marquee signing under contract and registered before any sanctions hit the club.

Second, Chelsea hopefully have a better read than the rumour mill about the progress of Eden Hazard’s contract talks. Or they are as much in the dark about the Belgian’s intentions as the rest of us. Either way, Pulisic is a hedge against losing Hazard. Even though Pulisic is more like what Willian could be than what Hazard is in purely football terms, signing Pulisic has symbolic value akin to keeping Hazard. Pulisic could propel the team forward for the next five years as Hazard as for the previous five years.

The club may also think signing Pulisic is an extra enticement for Eden Hazard to stay. If Chelsea suspects Hazard is tiring of playing alongside 30-somethings like Willian and Pedro, or any other players not to his level of dynamism and creativity, the arrival of Christian Pulisic could sway Hazard’s decision.

Perhaps we’re overly jaded, but Chelsea signing Christian Pulisic seems as much a harbinger of negative things to come as much as an auspicious opening for a young star. Preservation seems to drive the club more than advancement in recent years, and this move has equal parts of each.