Christian Pulisic is set to become the second Chelsea player to join AC Milan this summer after the two clubs agreed a fee for his transfer. Pulisic has been a transfer target for Milan right from the time the season ended. The Italian giants have been in constant dialogue with Chelsea and they have finally managed to secure his services.
Christian Pulisic thanking fans after a match for Chelsea. Source: Getty The American international came through the ranks at Borussia Dortmund and made quite a name for himself. He was one of the best young players in world football during his days with the German club. His exceptional performances and huge potential attracted the attention of numerous clubs from across Europe. Finally, Chelsea managed to acquire his services in a big money move back in the winter of 2019. While he did get off to a good start with the Blues, injuries have hampered his progress at the English club. Of late, the 24-year-old has gone down the pecking order. He might have featured in 30 matches last season but in reality, Pulisic was on the pitch for just over 1000 minutes.
Christian Pulisic at a match for USMNT. Source: Getty Pulisic who will be joining AC Milan on a deal reportedly worth more than €20 million ($21.8m), reportedly agreed on personal terms to play for the Italian club a few weeks ago, turning down a €25 million ($27.2 million) bid from French club Lyon. Confirming Christian Pulisic will be leaving Chelsea for AC Milan this summer, popular journalist Fabrizio Romano tweeted; “Christian Pulisic to AC Milan, here we go! Deal in place between clubs as Chelsea accepted conditions of final bid. “Personal terms agreed weeks ago as the player only wanted Milan — pushing for this new chapter. Medical/travel being scheduled.” Excellent relationship between Chelsea and AC Milan was crucial to get Pulisic deal done today. 🔴⚫️🇺🇸 Player was pushing since Monday to join Milan, not considering any other club or destination. Deal worth more €20m with add-ons. After Loftus-Cheek, Pulisic also done. pic.twitter.com/BenghzPorm — Fabrizio Romano (@FabrizioRomano) July 7, 2023 The United States men’s national team captain joined Chelsea in 2019 on a £58m transfer from Bundesliga’s Borussia Dortmund, still the most money an American player has gotten on a transfer. He has managed 145 appearances in all competitions, chipping in with 26 goals and 21 assists, but rarely saw an extended run of starts. Pulisic, whose Croatian passport helps Milan meet their non-EU rules, enjoyed an excellent post-lockdown streak in the second half of the prolonged 2019/20 campaign, bagging four goals and four assists in nine outings, and will now hope to bring that form to Milan.
Nicolas Jackson unveiled as Chelsea player. Source: Getty Jackson is now Mauricio Pochettino’s second summer signing since he took charge in May following the £52m arrival of Christopher Nkunku from RB Leipzig. Announcing their new signing, Chelsea’s co-sporting directors Laurence Stewart and Paul Winstanley said; “We are excited to welcome Nicolas to Chelsea. He is a young player with big potential, as he showcased for Villarreal last season. “We believe he is ready for this next step in his career and look forward to him working with our new head coach, Mauricio Pochettino, and his Chelsea teammates.” Jackson moved to Villarreral from Senegal in 2019 and, like Nkunku, can play as a central striker or on the wings. He played for Villarreal B before representing the first team from 2021 and has since scored 13 goals in 47 games, registering six assists. 
Nicolas Jackson coming in as a substitute for Villarreal. Source: Getty He almost signed for Bournemouth in January for about £25 million, but that deal collapsed after he suffered a hamstring injury which ruled him out for most of the last campaign. Jackson’s late season form, in what was a breakthrough campaign, earned him La Liga Player of the Month in May, helping Villarreal finish fifth and qualify for the Europa League. He also featured for Senegal at the Qatar World Cup, making his international debut in a group-stage game against the Netherlands. The Senegalese star is expected to compete for a role in Pochettino’s frontline next season along with Nkunku, Armando Broja, and David Datro Fofana. With Nicolas Jackson confirmed, Chelsea now needs to clear more deadwood in their attack. Romelu Lukaku, Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, and Christian Pulisic are still on the club’s books, and they will all need to be sold in the coming weeks. 
Mateo Kovacic unveiled as a Manchester City player. Source: Manchester City The treble winners said the 29-year-old had signed a four-year contract after the clubs reportedly agreed an initial fee of £25 million ($32 million), with a potential £5 million in add-ons. Kovacic joins Pep Guardiola’s side after five years at Chelsea, where he won the Champions League and Europa League and made 221 appearances. Kovacic isn’t seen as a direct replacement for the outgoing Ilkay Gundogan, but there are some similarities. That includes the ability to play in multiple positions in the middle, with City Director of Football Txiki Begiristain citing two different roles he can play. Add in the experience the Croatian midfielder has for club and country, and City are delighted with the ‘great signing’ they have made. Speaking to the club’s website, Kovacic who will wear the number 8 shirt said; 
Kovacic playing against Manchester City in the Premier League. Source: Getty “This is a brilliant move for me, and I cannot wait to get started with City. “Anyone who has watched this team under Pep knows how good they are – for me, they are the best in the world. The trophies they have won are clear for all to see, but they are also the best footballing side out there. To be joining this squad really is a dream for any footballer. “I still have plenty of learning and developing to do, and I know under Pep’s management I can become a better player, which is really exciting for me. “I still have plenty of learning and developing to do, and I know under Pep’s management I can become a better player, which is really exciting for me. “My plan now is to rest for a few weeks before coming back to Manchester to prepare for the new season. I want to help this club stay at the top and win more trophies.” Kovacic is City’s first signing of the transfer window and his arrival compensates for the departure of Gundogan, who joined Barcelona on a free transfer on Monday after seven years at the club. 
Pulisic at an EPL match for Chelsea against Bournemouth. Source: Getty With Chelsea set on trimming their bloated squad this summer, Pulisic is among the clutch of players tipped to move on with Lyon making him a ‘priority signing’. Lyon’s American owners have contacted Pulisic and believe they can secure his services for a bargain fee of €20million (£17.2m). Pulisic has just one year left on his contract and it is understood that Chelsea are ready to cash in, having already signed Christopher Nkunku for £52 million this summer, with further attacking options to come. Pulisic revealed how desperate he is to leave Chelsea in an interview with ESPN. He said; “It’s absolutely a time where I need to figure out what’s going to be best for my future and be somewhere where I can go and play and be trusted and feel good in what I’m doing. I want to find that joy at club level again, for sure.” 
Christian Pulisic at a match for USA men national team. Source: Getty Asides from Lyon, the USA international has attracted interest from clubs in Italy even though it is believed he could seek to find another Premier League side. Chelsea has been eager to trim their bloated squad this summer with Pulisic as one of the high-profile departures. N’Golo Kante has already left the club for Saudi side Al Ittihad, and it’s been also reported that the Blues have agreed to a £30 million deal with Manchester City for Mateo Kovacic to join the treble winners. Kai Havertz meanwhile is poised to join Arsenal in a £65m deal. Chelsea are also set to considerably fill their coffers with Edouard Mendy, Kalidou Kouliably, and Hakim Ziyech close to joining Saudi Pro League clubs. 
Nicolas Jackson set to arrive Stamford Bridge for his medicals. Source: Getty The 22-year-old forward, who was close to joining Bournemouth in January this year, scored 12 La Liga goals in 26 appearances for Villarreal. With Nicolas Jackson now set for his Chelsea debut, Kai Havertz’s departure from the club is imminent with the German international strongly linked with a move to Arsenal. Popular journalist, Fabrizio Romano reported that Chelsea paid a little more than the €35m release clause in Jackson’s Villarreal contract. The transfer fee will be paid in installments. The Senegalese footballer will be joining the English club as Mauricio Pochettino’s second signing of the window after Ecuadorian Kendry Paez penned a deal to move from Independiente del Valle. Excl: Chelsea have finally reached full agreement to sign Nicolas Jackson, here we go! 🚨🔵🇸🇳 #CFC Understand Villarreal accepted Chelsea to pay just bit more than €35m release clause but better payment terms using installments. Medical being scheduled, personal terms agreed. pic.twitter.com/5fXQvWXIEf — Fabrizio Romano (@FabrizioRomano) June 23, 2023 Christopher Nkunku officially came in from RB Leipzig earlier this week, but a deal had been sealed months ago before Pochettino came in. As a youth, Jackson played for Senegalese team Casa Sports. He had one season with the top-flight side before Villarreal snapped him up in 2019 and the attacker began training with their U-19 team. After an initial struggle, it was believed the youngster would benefit from first-team football. Jackson spent the 2020-21 season on loan at second-division Mirandes, scoring his first professional goal against CD Castellón in a 1-1 draw a month after his arrival. 
Logos of Chelsea football club and Strasbourg The agreement will also see BlueCo invest in Strasbourg’s first teams and academy while Marc Keller remains the club’s president having been at the helm since 2012 when the club was at risk of being liquidated. Commenting on the recent acquisition, Keller said; “This is an important day for Racing [Club de Strasbourg]. It’s something my shareholder friends and I have been thinking about for the past two years, “We’ve built a club that’s healthy at every level and well managed. Although there was no financial urgency, we were aware that we had reached the ceiling of our model. “If we wanted to continue driving Racing forward and projecting it into a new dimension, we necessarily needed to be accompanied by a solid structure capable of supporting our development and our ambition.” Reports in France have claimed Chelsea are paying €75m (£65m) for their share. The Chelsea owners are also expected to buy shares in a Portuguese club and more teams could be incorporated into the Stamford Bridge outfit’s grand plans. 
Kai Havertz in Chelsea’s home jersey. Source: Getty The clubs have also reached an agreement in principle that will allow the player to have a medical. Havertz would be Arsenal’s second-most expensive signing after they paid a club-record fee of around 72 million pounds for Ivory Coast forward Nicolas Pepe in 2019. Germany international Havertz was signed by Chelsea on a five-year contract in 2020 for around 71 million pounds after two prolific seasons with Bundesliga side Bayer Leverkusen. At Chelsea, he won the Champions League in his first season, scoring the winner in the 2021 final against Manchester City. Played in several positions in the front line and midfield, Havertz scored 14 goals in the 2021-22 campaign but he netted only nine times last season as Chelsea struggled to score under three different managers and finished 12th in the table. 
Arsenal’s coach, Mikel Arteta. Source: Getty Chelsea are looking to offload players ahead of next season after spending over 600 million euros ($655.74 million) on new signings since they were bought last year by an investment group led by American businessman Todd Boehly and Clearlake Capital. They’ve also agreed to £30m deal with Manchester City for Croatia midfielder Mateo Kovacic, 29. Another midfielder, France international N’Golo Kante, 32, has agreed to sign for Saudi Arabian champions Al-Ittihad when his contract expires at the end of June. Arsenal finished second champions Manchester City and have qualified for the Champions League for the first time since the 2016-17 campaign. The north London club are also looking to strengthen their midfield with West Ham United’s Declan Rice among their main targets. 
Christopher Nkunku in a match for RB Leipzig. Source: Getty Also confirming their new signing, Laurence Stewart and Paul Winstanley, Chelsea’s co-sporting directors, said: “Christopher has proved himself one of the standout attacking players in European football over the past two seasons and will add quality, creativity, and versatility to our squad. “He has demonstrated his ability at the highest level with RB Leipzig and France and we look forward to him joining up with his new teammates ahead of the new season.” Nkunku is Chelsea’s second signing of the summer after the transfer of 16-year-old Ecuadorian midfielder Kendry Paez from Independiente del Valle for €20m (£17.27m). He will not join the club until 2025 when he turns 18. 
Inter Milan goalkeeper, Andre Onana. Source: Getty Chelsea will now move on to other targets, leaving Manchester United as favourites to sign Andre Onana who is expected to cost around £50 million. Evening Standard reported that Tottenham-linked Brentford goalie David Raya is one name on the shortlist. Borussia Dortmund’s Gregor Kobel and Valencia’s Giorgi Mamardashvili are also on the list. Andre Onana started his youth career in his homeland before graduating from Barcelona’s famed La Masia setup. But he rose to prominence during his seven-and-a-half-year stint with Ajax. The period also included a controversial doping ban, which left him on the sidelines for nine months. Meanwhile, his spell with Ajax ended last summer, with the 27-year-old leaving as a free agent. The Cameroonian international joined Inter Milan in a Bosman move but took some time to get going. But Onana has not looked back since usurping Samir Handanovic as the first-choice shot-stopper. And he kept 19 clean sheets in 41 games for Inter Milan this past season. But Inter’s perilous financial situation has left them in a spot of bother while alerting suitors like Chelsea and Manchester United. 
Manchester United coach, Erik ten Hag. Source: Getty Chelsea dropping out of the race means Manchester United are in a better position to sign the goalkeeper. Recent reports suggested David de Gea would sign a new contract with Manchester United. But the latest updates have claimed that the Spaniard will depart from Old Trafford as a free agent. So Manchester United will need a top-class replacement. This would signal a reunion between the Cameroon stopper and Erik ten Hag, with the pair previously working together at Ajax. 
Chelsea’s forward, Kai Harvertz at a home match. Source: Getty Kai Havertz emerged as a surprise target for Premier League runners-up Arsenal as Mikel Arteta looks to bolster his attacking options this summer. Arteta wants to strengthen his squad at the Emirates Stadium as he eyes another title challenge and prepares for Arsenal’s return to the Champions League. Arsenal has made signing a new midfielder their priority during this window and remain optimistic about landing West Ham captain Declan Rice despite seeing an opening offer rejected by the Hammers. It is understood that Chelsea is willing to sell Havertz to Arsenal for the right price, as the German has two years remaining on his contract and has not indicated a desire to sign an extension. Havertz earns around £250,000 a week at Chelsea and Arsenal are believed to be willing to match that salary to take the Germany international to the Emirates. 
Arsenal coach, Mikel Arteta. Source: Getty With personal terms likely to be a formality, it now remains to be seen whether or not Arsenal can find an agreement with Chelsea for Havertz, as they also negotiate with West Ham United over Declan Rice. The Gunners are hoping that Havertz’s refusal to extend his stay at Chelsea beyond 2025 will bring the fee down. Havertz’s versatility is appealing to Arsenal boss, Arteta who can choose to play him up top, behind the striker, or as a roaming box-to-box midfielder. Arsenal have had an opening bid turned down for Kai Havertz, as @NathGissing first reported. #AFC will return and Havertz is very open to the move. Arsenal optimistic Chelsea won’t hold out for £75m. Talks quite positive despite the rejection.🔵 pic.twitter.com/086YlMGcgo — Ben Jacobs (@JacobsBen) June 16, 2023 The 2021 Champions League winner joined Chelsea as an attacking midfielder but has often been tasked with leading the line at Stamford Bridge. In his three seasons at Chelsea, Havertz has scored 32 goals in 139 games, including the winner in the Champions League final success over Manchester City two years ago.