COMMENT: No white flag has been flown. No message circulated through intermediaries. And there's been nothing even directly from the man, himself. For Christian Pulisic, he's a Chelsea player - and intends to remain so...
It was a floater. There's no other way to portray it. The story this week that Pulisic was ready to ask away. Nay demand it. After finding himself relegated to the bench after his old coach from Borussia Dortmund had taken charge at Stamford Bridge.
And to be fair, it could be argued it had some legs. Thomas Tuchel, without saying it directly, all but handing USA's national team captain that dreaded backhanded compliment. The one any young, ambitious player so desperately tries to avoid. Chelsea's manager effectively dubbing Pulisic his 'super sub'.
"I can say nothing else but good things about him," declared Tuchel this week in the aftermath of victory over Everton - a victory which didn't see Pulisic get on the pitch until injury-time.
And concerning - perhaps - for Pulisic, was what Tuchel said next: "Maybe his biggest problem is that I know him from Dortmund... he was so good (back then) coming off the bench."
Bang! Defined. Typecast. Tuchel basically let it be known that he sees Pulisic's best role in this Chelsea team as an impact player. At least, that is, for now...
Again, that story this week was a floater. Contact with an intermediary who does regular business with Chelsea offered nothing new. This column being told via a short, sharp email that "there's just nothing there. No-one's really talking about it". Yes, there may be some interest from the Northwest, where the American-owned Manchester United and Liverpool were mentioned as potential suitors, but both giants are monitoring every decent talent in the game, Pulisic and his situation is nothing different.
And given the approach of Tuchel in these opening weeks of his reign - and his history with Pulisic - if there is any concern or frustration within his camp, it is misplaced. Tuchel will turn to him. The attacker will get his chance. Like with Marcos Alonso and Ben Chilwell. Or Mateo Kovacic and Jorginho. Tuchel will rotate his attacking positions to the point of bringing Pulisic into his starting XI. He knows what he has in the American. As does Chelsea. And there's next-to-no-chance of either the manager or those above him clearing the way for Pulisic to depart in the summer.
Pulisic and Tuchel all smiles after another Chelsea win
Significantly, Tuchel discussed Pulisic's situation in sympathetic tones. There was no sting in the tail, as there has been regarding Tammy Abraham and his application in training. Pulisic's head hasn't dropped. He's been as committed as ever in his day-to-day work at the Cobham complex. And it can be argued, that little cameo against the Toffees was a message from his manager: that he wants him involved. Tuchel going with Pulisic ahead of fellow subs Olivier Giroud and Hakim Ziyech as he chose to bring off Timo Werner.
But it's what Pulisic offers which will eventually see him back in the starting XI. For Chelsea, the former Dortmund attacker is a one-off. No player on Chelsea's books are of similar type. An attacking midfielder capable of scoring hat-tricks at Premier League level. A creator and goalscorer. One who can play through the middle and on a flank - and do it all at pace.
As Glenn Hoddle, the former Chelsea manager, discussed this week, Tuchel likes his "runners". The strength of Chelsea under the German has been the pace and power of these "runners" in midfield: "He has runners in there, who can run off the ball and you have others who want the ball to feet and are always available.
"(Hakim) Ziyech and (Kai) Havertz aren't runners off the ball, but you'll have (Mason) Mount in there, (Callum) Hudson-Odoi. They're runners. They'll take the ball to feet, but they're also prepared to run in from behind..."
Hoddle effectively describing the game of Pulisic. Whether centrally or in that new attacking wing-back position employed by Tuchel, Pulisic's game offers more than the likes of Ziyech in this system. The American's chance will come.
As it did under Tuchel's predecessor. After a slow start under Frank Lampard, Pulisic established himself as a first-choice. It wasn't for a lack of talent that Lampard initially held Pulisic back. It was simply the process of bedding down a new foreign signing. There was nothing for Pulisic to win over Lampard at the time, it was just a matter of the former Blues manager gradually introducing the attacker to a higher level of football.
Today, it's been niggling injuries that have held Pulisic back. A nagging calf strain preventing him from establishing himself upon Tuchel's arrival. Nevertheless, his old BVB coach made it clear that "it is just risk management that relies on his history" and that "it is our job to bring the best out of him".
Whether it's managing these little strains, or finding a way to get him onto the pitch earlier, when speaking of Pulisic, Tuchel has always been clear that he sees the American as part of his plans. No-one at Chelsea is looking to push him out the door.
And for the player, the feeling's mutual. Despite outside speculation, Pulisic remains committed to proving himself at Chelsea. No-one's waving the white flag just yet.
