Dortmund's Rising Star Christian Pulisic an Unrealistic Liverpool January Target

Toward the end of August, as the summer transfer window drew to a close, Liverpool launched an £11 million bid for Borussia Dortmund winger Christian Pulisic—an ambitious move, one that was rejected under no uncertain terms, according to German publication Kicker (h/t the Express' Bruce Archer).

With Jurgen Klopp admitting his interest in signing another wide player in the aftermath of Danny Ings' season-ending injury and Sadio Mane's likely impending departure for the Africa Cup of Nations with Senegal in January, Pulisic has emerged as a rumoured target once again.

As reported by the Mail's Dominic King, Liverpool are "tracking" Pulisic ahead of the winter transfer window. But King also stated: "A deal to sign him in January would be far from straightforward, and it is more likely that any deal for the American teenager will be completed next summer."

Klopp made just one immediate signing last January—as well as arranging another arrival for the summer—with six further incomings agreed prior to the 2016/17 campaign, suggesting it could be a quiet window:

• Marko Grujic, from Red Star Belgrade, January 6 (returned on loan)
• Steven Caulker (Loan), from Queens Park Rangers, January 12
• Joel Matip, from Schalke 04, February 15
• Loris Karius, from Mainz 05, May 24
• Sadio Mane, from Southampton, June 28
• Ragnar Klavan, from Augsburg, July 20
• Alex Manninger, from Augsburg, July 22
• Georginio Wijnaldum, from Newcastle United, July 22

But whether in January or in the summer, Pulisic is an increasingly unrealistic target for the Reds, as his meteoric rise at Westfalenstadion is poised to continue throughout the season under Klopp's successor, Thomas Tuchel.

That £11 million offer may have represented little more than a hopeful gamble at securing one of world football's most promising talents before he was truly appreciated at his current club—as Pulisic now looks unlikely to leave Dortmund anytime soon, leaving Klopp and Liverpool forced to look elsewhere.

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"This time last season, Pulisic played against youth teams in the under-19 Bundesliga," Bleacher Report's Dortmund correspondent, Lars Pollmann, recalled when asked about Pulisic's progression over the past year. "People knew of his talent but it was hard to foresee this quick development."

Heading into the 2015/16 season, the 16-year-old Pulisic had yet to make his competitive debut for Dortmund, with his first outing for the club coming after his 17th birthday, as a second-half substitute in a 2-0 victory at home to FC Ingolstadt 04 in the Bundesliga on January 30.

Speaking after the game, Tuchel provided encouragement for his latest debutant, telling reporters that Pulisic had "seen that he can keep up with the team and cope at this level," earmarking him for more game time.

Pulisic went on to make 12 appearances for Dortmund in all competitions, scoring two goals. And although he totalled just 463 minutes on the pitch, or 38.6 per game, he had clearly made an impression at Klopp's former club.

At the time of Liverpool's bid in August, however, Pulisic looked a viable target for the Reds, one who fit Klopp's specification—much like Grujic, who was then under two months into his own career on Merseyside.

Pulisic had gained valuable experience of top-level football but was still far from a household name. And with Dortmund signing Mario Gotze, Andre Schurrle, Ousmane Dembele and Emre Mor over the summer for a combined fee of around £64 million, there was considerable competition for a starting role.

ODD ANDERSEN/Getty Images

This was highlighted by Sports Illustrated's Grant Wahl in September, with sources telling the writer that Pulisic was in "wait-and-see mode" regarding a new contract at Dortmund, looking to ascertain his immediate role under Tuchel.

But as Pollmann detailed, Pulisic's rise from Dortmund's youth ranks looks to have reassured him of his importance.

"Since then, he has debuted in the Bundesliga and for the U.S. national team, set a boatload of records, played the entire second half against Lionel Messi's Argentina in the USMNT's biggest game of recent history and evolved into a regular starter for Dortmund," Pollmann continued. "Obviously, his development has been sped up by an injury crisis, but that should not take anything away from Pulisic."

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As Pollmann noted, Pulisic's recent stint in the first team at Dortmund has coincided with injury lay-offs for both Schurrle and Marco Reus, with the former having played just eight times since his arrival, totalling 365 minutes. The latter has yet to feature in 2016/17, having torn an adductor muscle in May.

This could give weight to the argument that Klopp's January interest will come as Pulisic drops back down the pecking order, with Reus back in first-team training and Schurrle having made three substitute appearances since the end of October.

CHRISTOF STACHE/Getty Images

But Pollmann believes the 18-year-old Pulisic has shown enough to battle off competition from Dembele and Mor to become Tuchel's go-to youngster in regular rotation with their elder team-mates.

"It will be interesting to see how much his playing time will be affected by the return to fitness of both Reus and Schurrle," Pollmann said. "There is an argument to be made that Pulisic has been the best and certainly the most consistent of the team's three teenagers on the attacking wings, but something has got to give.

"Still, though, Pulisic has played too well and has been too effective to not play a role in the near future."

Pollmann is certainly right, with Pulisic scoring two goals and laying on six assists in his 12 outings for BVB so far this season, averaging a direct goal contribution every 98 minutes—a significantly better rate than Dembele or Mor:

	Pulisic	Dembele	Mor
Minutes	785	1,133	468
Goals + assists	2 + 6	2 + 6	1 + 2
Minutes per goal or assist	98	142	156

Note: average minutes rounded to the nearest whole figure.

Extending this comparison, only Schurrle (91) and Pierre Emerick-Aubameyang (73) have averaged fewer minutes per goal or assist in yellow and black this season, with Pulisic's output dwarfing those of Gotze (402), Shinji Kagawa (294) and Adrian Ramos (166).

Pulisic also compares well with Klopp’s three regular forwards—Mane, Philippe Coutinho and Roberto Firmino:

	Pulisic	Mane	Coutinho	Firmino
Minutes	785	961	906	1,032
Goals + assists	2 + 6	6 + 4	6 + 6	6 + 6
Minutes per goal or assist	98	96	76	86

Note: average minutes rounded to the nearest whole figure.

Dortmund, of course, have recognised the magnitude of his output too, and sporting director Michael Zorc recently told Wahl that "because of his development, the club is ready to speak to him to prolong his contract at any time."

Pollmann revealed that "he is currently being paid like a teenager and not like someone who starts most games."

He continued: "Unless Pulisic forces a transfer—and there is no reason to assume that will be the case anytime soon—there seems to be no chance Dortmund will let go of their academy's crowning jewel, however absurd a transfer offer might arrive from Anfield or elsewhere in the world.

"Not only is Pulisic a key component for the club's short- and especially long-term future, but he is also a golden ticket, as Dortmund are set to enter the American market in the coming years."

"

.@cpulisic_10 joined us to discuss​ the future of @ussoccer, the potential of the @MLS, & why @LuisFigo is his favorite player of all time. pic.twitter.com/606FVmSntJ

— Herd w/Colin Cowherd (@TheHerd) November 9, 2016"

With Pulisic thriving at Westfalenstadion, and telling Fox Sports Radio's Colin Cowherd that "the Bundesliga is a very strong league" and that "every weekend you’re playing a great game, whether it’s the team in second place or the team in last place," agitating for a move does not seem on the agenda.

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Pulisic has everything Liverpool look for in a prospective signing: drive, humility and a prodigious talent. As an added bonus, he has a previous relationship with Klopp from the 49-year-old’s time at Dortmund.

Crucially for the club’s owner, Fenway Sports Group, he also has considerable financial value for the future—particularly in the relatively untapped North American market, where his star continues to rise.

Unfortunately, a move to Merseyside is highly unlikely. And in his pursuit of cover for Mane and Ings, Klopp may be forced to turn his focus elsewhere—with signing Pulisic likely a bridge too far, even at this stage.

Jack Lusby will be covering Liverpool throughout 2016/17 as one of Bleacher Report's lead correspondents. Statistics courtesy of Transfermarkt. Quotes obtained firsthand unless otherwise noted.

Follow Jack on Twitter @jacklusby and Facebook here.