Chelsea
A real shame – Chelsea would be foolish to allow this promising £58m star to depart on loan
Why Christian Pulisic departing Chelsea on loan would be a real shame
According to The Sun, out-of-favour Chelsea star, Christian Pulisic, could ask for a loan move away from Stamford Bridge in January unless he gets more playing minutes under his belt.
Having started only five games for the Blues in all competitions this term, the 21-year-old United States international is not at all happy with this playtime and he might be forced to ask for a temporary stint elsewhere if things do not improve before the mid-season trading period.
Pulisic was regarded as one of the most sought-after young talents in Europe when Chelsea splashed out £58 million to secure his services in January.
The talented attacker was loaned out to Borussia Dortmund for the remainder of the 2018-19 campaign and he only linked up with his new teammates in West London earlier in the summer during the pre-season period.
The 21-year-old earned the trust of new Chelsea boss Frank Lampard after featuring regularly and impressing in the pre-season friendlies, with the manager handing him starts against Leicester City, Norwich City and Sheffield United in the Premier League in August, as well as in the UEFA Super Cup defeat to Liverpool.
Despite having proven his worth with some moments of sheer brilliance in the first month of the ongoing campaign, Pulisic has slipped way down the pecking order ever since, with Lampard overlooking the United States prodigy for three consecutive Premier League fixtures against Wolves, Liverpool and Brighton, as well as for the UEFA Champions League ties against Valencia and Lille.
Well, that constant snub from the playing eleven hasn’t gone down well with Pulisic and, while he has admitted that he is ready to fight tooth and nail in order to regain his manager’s confidence, the 21-year-old is keen to keep his options open if he doesn’t manage to nail down a regular starting role in the coming months. (h/t Sun)
Lampard has shown more faith in veterans Willian and Pedro for a role out wide on either flank while Mason Mount has often been given the nod ahead of Pulisic when it comes to starting on the left-hand side of the forward line.
Now, with Callum Hudson-Odoi also back in the reckoning from his spell on the sidelines, Pulisic finds his pathway to the playing eleven blocked by as many as four players, all of whom are apparently above him in the pecking order under Lampard.
As per the report, Lampard has pointed out that Pulisic needs more time to adapt to the demands of playing regularly in the Premier League, with the gaffer making it clear that the 21-year-old would need to prove his worth on the training ground if he is really serious about becoming one of the first names on his team sheet.
To put things into perspective, it doesn’t really take a rocket scientist to figure out that Pulisic is frustrated with his lack of involvement at Stamford Bridge and he will be well within his rights to demand a loan move elsewhere if he is not a key part of Lampard’s plans moving forward.
Such a situation, however, would be a real shame for Chelsea and a blemish that the Blues can simply ill-afford during the mid-season trading period.
With several academy prospects like Tammy Abraham, Mount, Fikayo Tomori, Hudson-Odoi and Recce James reaping the rewards of Lampard’s youth project and the transfer embargo still very much in place until the end of the season, losing a top young prospect like Pulisic on loan in January would be a massive step backwards for a number of reasons.
Pulisic’s quality on the ball and his vision to set up goals have been quite apparent whenever he has been on the pitch and it is hard to understand why Lampard is still reluctant to give him regular opportunities, particularly with Willian and Pedro not doing enough on a consistent basis to justify their selection.
And far as Mount is concerned, versatility to play in multiple roles in the midfield is one of his key assets and his inclusion in the eleven hardly has anything to do with Pulisic’s omission, simply because both offer something different in terms of overall gameplay.
Chelsea looked to have pulled off a massive deal when they snapped up Pulisic for a staggering fee back in January, however, one cannot help but wonder as to what might have changed so drastically over the last few months that he is no longer being considered for a first-team role at the club.
Of course, Maurizio Sarri has made way for Lampard but that shouldn’t have anything to do with Pulisic’s constant omission from the playing eleven, given that his talent and potential remains the same. Suffice to say, he deserves to be rated mote highly at Stamford Bridge.
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However, if Lampard feels that he is not doing enough on the training ground to earn a place in the eleven, then he might as well find a way to extract the best out of him, which is definitely a part of his job as the manager of the club.
All in all, this is a situation that Lampard needs to address at the earliest to prevent it from escalating into a distracting issue that could potentially have a negative impact on the entire squad.
Tottenham Women have signed Japan international Maika Hamano on loan from Chelsea until the end of the season, marking their fourth signing of the January transfer window. The 21 year old versatile attacker joins fellow new arrivals Matilda Nildén, Hannah Wijk and Signe Gaupset as Martin Ho strengthens his squad for a top four push.
Hamano joined Chelsea from INAC Kobe Leonessa in 2023 and was a member of Japan’s 2023 World Cup and 2024 Paris Olympics squads. However, she has seen limited minutes at Stamford Bridge this season under Sonia Bompastor, prompting the loan move to secure regular playing time.
Versatile Forward Provides Emergency Cover
The attacker can play anywhere across the forward line, operating on both flanks and centrally. She appears to be emergency cover for Jess Naz, who is out for the rest of the season after suffering an ACL injury in December. The loan is believed to be a dry loan with no purchase option included.
The only downside to Hamano’s arrival is that she will miss a couple of games this spring alongside fellow Japan international Toko Koga for the Asian Cup. Claire Hunt will also be absent during that period for international duty.
Spurs Positioning for Top Four Finish
Tottenham’s aggressive January business signals their ambition to finish in the top four or five this season. Reports suggest they are not finished in the transfer market with Julie Blakstad and Larissa Mühlhaus also mentioned as potential targets.
The club has moved swiftly to address squad weaknesses after struggling in the first half of the campaign. Hamano’s versatility gives Ho tactical flexibility as Spurs look to climb the WSL table when they return from the winter break on January 10.
Chelsea
(Photos) Chelsea Star Sam Kerr Marries USWNT’s Kristie Mewis in Australian Wedding of the Year as Matildas Captain Carries Son Jagger Down Aisle
Sam Kerr married longtime partner Kristie Mewis in a stunning New Year’s Eve ceremony at Dionysus Villa in Perth’s Swan Valley. The Chelsea striker and former USWNT midfielder, who welcomed son Jagger earlier in 2025, exchanged vows in front of 120 guests at the luxurious Venetian inspired estate in what Australian media dubbed “Australian sport’s wedding of the year.”
Kerr dazzled in a classic black tuxedo with a white buttonhole rose while Mewis wore a white sparkling gown featuring a corset and long veil. In a touching moment, Kerr carried their seven month old son down the aisle with Mewis later revealing on her podcast that she would “sob when that happens.”
Matildas Stars Among Superstar Guests
The guestlist included several of Kerr’s Matildas teammates including Steph Catley, Mackenzie Arnold and Alanna Kennedy, who all wore black outfits in line with the dress code. Arsenal stars Caitlin Foord and Katie McCabe also attended alongside former United States teammate Stephanie McCaffrey.
The couple got engaged in late 2023 after meeting in 2019 and officially announcing their relationship in 2021. They celebrated into the early hours of 2026 before flying back to London with baby Jagger after a brief stay at the Crown Towers hotel.
A full honeymoon is on hold due to Kerr’s upcoming fixture for Chelsea against West Ham on January 11th.
Wedding Caps Remarkable Recovery
The ceremony caps a remarkable two years for Kerr following her ACL injury sustained in January 2024 that kept her out for 20 months. Her recovery was extended due to an undiscovered issue with the surgical graft that caused persistent pain and dark days during rehabilitation.
She made her return in September 2025, scoring her 100th Chelsea goal minutes after coming off the bench against Aston Villa.
Also read: Sjoeke Nüsken Open to Chelsea Exit as Bayern Munich Circle, Expresses Her Preference
Arsenal Dragon
Top Women’s Football Free Agents in 2026 as Lucy Bronze, Bunny Shaw and Georgia Stanway Among Stars With Expiring Contracts
A large number of high profile players in women’s football will become free agents this summer with reigning WSL champions Chelsea facing the potential departure of eight first team stars. Lucy Bronze, Hannah Hampton, Millie Bright, Aggie Beever Jones, Sam Kerr, Catarina Macario, Guro Reiten and Rebecca Spencer are all out of contract or require options to be exercised.
All Chelsea players are available to sign pre contracts with clubs outside the WSL from this month. Macario is the player most likely to leave amid interest from NWSL side Bay FC, with the United States international having found game time limited under Sonia Bompastor this season.
Arsenal Face Major Contract Decisions
Arsenal also have several top players requiring action including Emily Fox, Katie McCabe, Kim Little, Stina Blackstenius and Beth Mead. Mead could be on the move after being linked with London City Lionesses last summer, though the Gunners will be desperate to retain the Euro 2025 winner.
Manchester City face losing WSL leading goalscorer Bunny Shaw on a free transfer this summer. Leila Ouahabi and Laura Coombs are also both out of contract at the Joie Stadium. Manchester United will be keen to exercise the option on Ella Toone’s deal after the midfielder was awarded an MBE in the New Year Honours List.
European Stars Available
England midfielder Georgia Stanway is attracting interest from clubs including Arsenal with her Bayern Munich contract expiring. Barcelona face uncertainty over several stars including Alexia Putellas, Mapi Leon, Salma Paralluelo and Caroline Graham Hansen.
Caroline Weir is on an expiring contract at Real Madrid while former England number one Mary Earps could leave Paris Saint Germain. Trinity Rodman’s Washington Spirit contract expires with WSL champions Chelsea among clubs interested in the United States forward.
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