Tim Howard went there. De Bruyne at Chelsea, Salah at Chelsea — and now Christian Pulisic. It's a bold comparison, but it's not entirely without foundation, and Manchester United are apparently ready to act on it.
Reports claim INEOS are accelerating plans to sign the 27-year-old American this summer, with club chiefs described as "particularly keen" on him over AC Milan teammate Rafael Leao. The reason is pretty straightforward: Pulisic has one year left on his deal, no active extension talks are ongoing, and he can play three or four different positions across the front line.
What Pulisic actually brings
The numbers from Milan are hard to argue with. 88 goal involvements in 131 appearances. He's been their most consistent attacking threat over three seasons, including this one where he's been deployed as a false nine when required. Chelsea let him leave for nothing in 2023. That decision looks worse with every passing month.
His versatility is the specific thing United are sold on. They need a left winger ahead of a return to the Champions League, but Pulisic gives you more than that — he can drift centrally, press intelligently, and carry the ball in tight spaces. For a squad still figuring out its best shape under a new manager, that adaptability has real value.
The contract angle also changes the negotiation entirely. Milan hold an option on that 2027 deal, but with no extension talks progressing, United could realistically push for a deal without facing an astronomical asking price. That matters for a club that has otherwise spent significantly this window — Sesko, Mbeumo, Cunha, Lammens all arrived last summer.
Howard's take deserves more than a dismissal
The De Bruyne and Salah comparison will get eyerolls, and fair enough — those are two of the greatest Premier League players ever. But Howard's underlying point is worth engaging with: that Pulisic went abroad, built genuine confidence, and became a different player. He's not the raw winger Chelsea grew impatient with. He's a complete attacking midfielder who has operated at the top of Serie A for three years.
Whether he reaches Salah or De Bruyne levels is another question entirely. But the version United would be signing is considerably better than the one Chelsea gave up on — and at 27, he's entering the years that define careers.
If the contract situation plays out the way it looks, Pulisic's price tag will be the most interesting part of this story. United would be buying one of Milan's best players at close to a discount. That doesn't happen often.
