Chelsea ‘to listen to offers’ for Newcastle United and Leeds United transfer target

Newcastle United’s attempts to sign Chelsea star Christian Pulisic has reportedly been handed a boost after it was suggested Thomas Tuchel is ‘willing to listen to loan’ offers for the United States international.

Pulisic has struggled to break into Tuchel’s side since the former Borussia Dortmund and Paris Saint-Germain coach replaced Frank Lampard at Stamford Bridge in January 2021.

The 23-year-old has been used as a substitute in Premier League games against Everton and Tottenham Hotspur so far this season and made just 22 league starts under the German during the first 18 months of his reign.

Speculation has mounted Pulisic could be allowed to depart Stamford Bridge on a temporary basis as he looks for regular game-time ahead of this winter’s World Cup in Qatar.

The talented winger will captain the United States as they face England, Iran and Wales in Group B and will hope to go into the tournament after making regular appearances throughout the first half of the season.

His route into the Blues first-team was further hampened when Tuchel added Manchester City and England winger Raheem Sterling to his squad over the summer.

Speaking after Sterling’s arrival, Pulisic told ESPN: “That’s just life at a big club.

“We have great quality and Raheem we’re really excited about it. The beautiful thing about being at a club like this is the competition every single day. We all thrive competing with each other in training. It’s just another great addition to the team and it doesn’t change a whole lot.

“I’m still going to have to play hard and enter my position just like I did before. Nothing crazy. This is Chelsea. This is what this is, what you sign up for and this is the kind of club it is with the calibre of players that we have.”

Newcastle, Leeds United, Atletico Madrid, AC Milan and Juventus are all said to be interested in securing his services and The Mail have now reported Chelsea are open to the idea of allowing the winger to depart on loan.

Pulisic is not the only Blues player believed to be on the Magpies radar with midfielder Conor Gallagher, winger Callum Hudson-Odoi and striker Armando Broja also said to be under consideration by the United hierachy.

Speculation over a deal between the Magpies and Chelsea increased over the weekend when United joint-owners Amanda Staveley and Mehrdad Ghodoussi were at Stamford Bridge to take in the Blues 1-1 draw with London rivals Spurs.

The report also suggests Newcastle are also considering moves for Benfica’s highly-rated forward Goncalo Ramos and Stuttgart striker Sasa Kalajdzic, who is also said to be interesting Premier League rivals Manchester United.