Chelsea legend Joe Cole admits he feels ‘sorry’ for Christian Pulisic after an injury-hit season

Joe Cole has admitted he feels ‘pity’ for Christian Pulisic after an injury-heavy season at Chelsea.

The American has increasingly been linked with an exit from The Blues amid a struggle for form coupled with Chelsea’s recent influx of attacking talent.

The 24-year-old joined Chelsea in 2019 for £58 million on a transfer from German side Borussia Dortmund.

The winger suffered a knee injury on January 5 during Chelsea’s 1-0 defeat to Manchester City.

Cole, 41, shared GOAL: ‘He is a super talented footballer. He won the Champions League with Chelsea and he played a big part by scoring important goals.

“It’s just, I feel sorry for Christian with the number of injuries he has. It really stopped his development.”

“I think he should find his happiness in a Chelsea shirt again. It is very difficult and there is always competition,” the Chelsea legend continued.

“There are 31 players in the Chelsea squad, many of them world-class players. He needs to find his rhythm again.’

Pulisic made 21 appearances in the Premier League this season, but only made eight appearances for The Blues.

He faces an uphill battle to regain a place in Chelsea’s starting eleven, with the likes of Mykhailo Mudryk, Joao Felix and Noni Madueke joining the club in January.

Chelsea are keen to trim their squad in the summer and Pulisic – who was open to leaving the club in January with Manchester United and Newcastle – is said to be spearheading the departures.

Atletico Madrid and Real Madrid have also been mentioned as potential candidates for Pulisic, whose contract expires in June 2024.