Chelsea's Transfer Business Is Exciting - But Christian Pulisic Deserves the Same Hype

The 2019/20 season isn't even finished yet and Chelsea fans are already looking forward to 2020/21.

With no pesky transfer ban holding the Blues back, Frank Lampard has been incredibly active in the transfer market already, striking deals for Ajax's Hakim Ziyech and RB Leipzig's Timo Werner - two of Europe's most exciting forwards - and there are still plans to keep the spending going.

It's an exciting time to be a Chelsea fan, but one of the biggest causes for that excitement has been at the club all year - Christian Pulisic.

A £58m signing in January 2019, Pulisic joined up with Chelsea that summer and immediately came with the unwanted label of 'the Eden Hazard replacement' - even though the Blues distanced themselves from such an opinion.

Unfortunately, through no fault of his own, it hasn't been the easiest of campaigns for the American. He initially struggled to earn a spot in Lampard's starting lineup, and then as soon as he made it there, he picked up a handful of injuries which have plagued him ever since.

We haven't seen the best of Pulisic this season, but what we have seen is some real moments of fun. His hat-trick against Burnley in October, following by a goal in each of his next two games, showed fans exactly what they wanted to see.

Sunday's 2-1 victory over Aston Villa gave Pulisic the chance to make his first appearance since New Year's Day, and within five minutes of entering the pitch as a substitute, the American changed the dynamic of the game by firing home an equaliser.

After a further two minutes, the Blues were ahead, and it's no coincidence that they took the next step in the game in the immediate aftermath of his introduction.

Pulisic gave Chelsea the cutting edge which they had been lacking during the game (and for the majority of the season), bursting forward with the ball at his feet and arriving late in the penalty area to bag the equaliser - something Lampard knows about better than most.

"The ability he has to arrive in the box, is a big thing I've spoken with him about all season," the boss said of Pulisic's performance (via the Daily Mail).

"The difference between being a very good attacking player off the side or the players at the real top level who arrive, score in the six-yard box and hit big numbers yearly. I really think Christian can do that."

Seven goals and six assists from a 21-year-old (side note: how is Pulisic only 21?) in an injury-hit debut campaign is nothing to sneeze at, and once Pulisic overcomes his fitness issues and gets adjusted to the tempo of the league, you can expect those numbers to rise.

Add to that the chance to play alongside someone with the creativity and vision of Ziyech, plus improved versions of Ruben Loftus-Cheek and Mason Mount, and you've got one of the most exciting prospects in the entire Premier League.

Fans act like it will be Werner, Ziyech and maybe Kai Havertz who will lead Chelsea to glory next season, but don't forget about Pulisic.

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