Giorgio Chiellini talks up Christian Pulisic to Juventus move

The USA international was not a consistent starter under Thomas Tuchel in the 2021-22 campaign and has been strongly linked with a move away in the coming weeks.

There have been claims that Chelsea could attempt to negotiate a part-exchange deal involving Pulisic and Matthijs de Ligt amid the Blues' search for centre-back reinforcements.

Pulisic is supposedly keen to stay and fight for his place at Stamford Bridge, but Chelsea could be open to parting ways with the 23-year-old for the right price.

Former Bianconeri defender Chiellini - who has just completed a move to Los Angeles FC after 18 years of service to Juventus - believes that Pulisic can act as a "fantastic third winger" for the club alongside Federico Chiesa and Angel Di Maria.

"Honestly, it's the first time I heard it, but I think Juventus needs some winger as Pulisic," the 37-year-old told ESPN's Futbol Americas show.

"Pulisic is very good, I think, when he starts from the side and comes inside, and with the injury of Chiesa -- he [will] surely still return, but not before September, and in the first months, surely he can play every game.

"With the [arrival] of Angel Di Maria, Pulisic could be the fantastic third winger for Juventus. He has improved year by year, he did a fantastic season in Chelsea."

Argentina international Di Maria has arrived at Juventus on a one-year deal after leaving Paris Saint-Germain as a free agent, with Dejan Kulusevski expected to eventually sign for Tottenham Hotspur on a permanent deal.

Pulisic has amassed 25 goals and 18 assists in 114 outings for Chelsea since arriving in 2019, winning the Champions League, Club World Cup and UEFA Super Cup in that time.

The former Borussia Dortmund man found the back of the net on six occasions in 22 Premier League games last season but was only named in the starting lineup 13 times.

Pulisic could be pushed further down the pecking order at Chelsea next term should the Blues' pursuits of Raheem Sterling and Raphinha ultimately bear fruit.

Chelsea are still believed to be at the head of the queue for the signature of Raphinha and have allegedly already agreed a fee of approximately £60m with Leeds United.

However, Raphinha is still thought to favour a move to Barcelona, whose financial situation means that they could not compete with Chelsea on that front.

Personal terms are understood to have been agreed with Sterling, who could leave Manchester City on a free next summer should a transfer not be agreed in the coming weeks.