Landon Donovan has voiced reservations about Christian Pulisic’s capacity to cope with the physical demands of a Premier League return, comments that arrive amid continued transfer speculation. On the Unfiltered Soccer podcast, Tim Howard suggested a move to an English giant could elevate Pulisic, while Donovan highlighted long-term fitness as the key concern.

“This is a scenario where I think if he is motivated and wants to go prove it, he is capable of it—going to one of these big clubs in England,” Donovan said. “The one hesitation I have, and this is just speaking from personal experience … the physical part of it is a real thing.

“He’s a phenomenal athlete, he is. But some of the athletes in the Premier League are monsters. I mean monsters. And to do it, 35, 40, 45 times a year at that pace is really hard. I don’t know, physically, if he could do it every single week for two or three years, like some of these guys. Because it’s really hard.”

Pulisic’s injury record at Chelsea is central to Donovan’s point. Transfermarkt documents 13 different injuries across four seasons at Stamford Bridge, absences that added up to 60 missed matches. Since his transfer to AC Milan ahead of the 2023–24 season his fitness problems have eased, but consistency has remained an issue.

In 2025–26 Pulisic has already suffered three separate injuries after an explosive start: eight goal contributions in his first seven games for Milan were interrupted by a hamstring injury during the October international break. In the months that followed he has been in and out of the infirmary and his playing time has been irregular. He has scored four times in his last 13 appearances, and all four goals came before the calendar flipped to 2026.

A return to what is widely considered the most physical and competitive league in the world presents a high risk, high reward scenario for the USMNT. Success at a top English club could lift his international level, but persistent injury or inconsistent minutes could leave Pulisic diminished at club level and deprive the national team of its key player for extended periods.

Deadline Day can still deliver late movement, even when midseason selling is difficult. With the January window closing, clubs remain capable of last-minute deals. Here are five players who, according to current reporting, could yet change clubs before the window slams shut.

Jean-Philippe Mateta has watched Michael Olise, Eberechi Eze and now Guéhi depart Crystal Palace since his rise to prominence and believes the time is right to make a move. Oliver Glasner kept Mateta out of his matchday squad on Sunday, as Palace drew 1–1 at Nottingham Forest, and the Frenchman is poised to join Milan on Deadline Day. Interest came from Nottingham Forest, but Mateta is thought to favour Serie A. The reported fee is £26 million ($35.6 million). As mitigation, Palace are bringing in Wolverhampton Wanderers striker Jørgen Strand Larsen.

Joshua Zirkzee has not played for Manchester United since Michael Carrick took the reins due to an injury, but the Dutch forward was back in the matchday squad against Fulham. He has two Premier League goals in 14 appearances this season. There has been talk of a return to Serie A, with Napoli and Roma linked, although Romelu Lukaku’s long-awaited comeback from injury has eased Napoli’s need for a centre forward. Zirkzee’s reaction to Benjamin Šeško’s winner on Sunday suggests he remains committed at Old Trafford, yet calls about his availability persist.

Jhon Durán left Aston Villa for Al Nassr in a £71 million ($89 million) deal after a strong start to 2024–25. He scored eight times in 13 Saudi Pro League matches before moving on loan to Fenerbahçe last summer. Durán has had less joy in Türkiye and speculation is growing about a return to the Premier League. Any move would require agreement with his parent club, and clubs including Newcastle United and Tottenham Hotspur have been linked.

Moussa Diaby has been mentioned as a possible Inter target despite not being an obvious fit for a 3-5-2. He impressed at Bayer Leverkusen, was less effective in one Premier League season and spent two years in the Saudi Pro League. Unai Emery was willing to cut ties after Al Ittihad offered a fee similar to what they paid in 2023. The Inter link looks unlikely, but Tottenham could be active late.

Inter are also struggling to sort a deal with Liverpool for Curtis Jones, which currently leaves Davide Frattesi set to remain in Milan until summer. An agreement in principle with Nottingham Forest exists, however, so if Inter pivot and bring someone in, Frattesi could be on his way to the Premier League.

Every era rewards certain stars with lasting spotlight. This piece re-centres the conversation on players whose decisive moments and steady output deserved greater recognition.

Keylor Navas anchored Real Madrid’s run of three consecutive Champions League titles between 2016 and 2018 and later provided Paris Saint-Germain with dependable performances as they collected domestic trophies. Romelu Lukaku’s record — his country’s all-time leading goalscorer, more than 300 club goals across Belgium, England and Italy and trophies with multiple teams — is routinely judged more harshly than it should be.

Branislav Ivanović combined physicality with football intelligence, supplying precise crosses and a genuine goal threat; he helped Chelsea to three Premier League titles, three FA Cups and the Champions League, including a decisive header in the Europa League final in 2013. Adriano, for all the talk about his career’s what-ifs, was “one of the best players I have ever played with. He was a different animal. Nobody could stop him,” said Zlatan Ibrahimovic.

Mario Mandžukić delivered in the biggest moments — scoring the extra-time winner to send Croatia past England in the 2018 World Cup semifinals, netting in the final, and opening the scoring for Bayern in the 2013 Champions League final. James Milner, the Premier League’s most capped appearance-maker, has been a Premier League and Champions League winner and an adaptable presence at the top level.

Diego Milito’s brace sealed Inter’s 2009–10 Champions League triumph at the Santiago Bernabéu, yet his scant international tournament minutes feel unjust. Edin Džeko’s equaliser two minutes before Sergio Agüero’s title-sealing goal was crucial; the Bosnian amassed over 450 career goals across Germany, England and Italy.

Guti made 542 appearances for Real Madrid and helped the club to 15 trophies — three Champions League and five La Liga titles — though his output is often reduced to a single viral backheel assist. Ian Rush remains Liverpool’s top scorer with 346 goals and a record of domestic and European trophies in the 1980s and 1990s.

Elsewhere, Frank Rijkaard, Youri Djorkaeff, Bebeto and Romário, Steve Bruce (who, Neil Warnock said, would “die to get three points out there.”), Santi Cazorla, Olivier Giroud, Alessandro Costacurta, Juan Román Riquelme (for whom Louis van Gaal observed, “When we have the ball, we have the world’s best player. But when we lose the ball, we play with 10 men,”) and Matt Le Tissier all exemplify players whose influence has too often been marginalised in wider discussion.