Sorry Ronnie... you would be odd man out at Chelsea
THOMAS TUCHEL is reluctant to move for Cristiano Ronaldo in case it blows an Ole Gunnar Solskjaerstyle hole in his plans for next season.
Tuchel, who is in the running to sign PSG’s Presnel Kimpembe as a replacement for Antonio Rudiger, has formulated the way he wants to play next season with a flexible forward similar to Jurgen Klopp’s great Liverpool team that won the Champions League in 2019.
His vision is for a fluid front three of Raheem Sterling, Kai Havertz as a Roberto Firmino-style false nine and Raphinha, though the Brazilian is holding out for a move to Barcelona instead.
Ousmane Dembele, currently at the Nou Camp, is an alternative should he fail to agree a new deal in Spain.
Although Ronaldo would be attractive to new Chelsea owner Todd Boehly because of his global marketability and goals record, he is allowing Tuchel a big say over signings and the German is mindful of what happened at Old Trafford a year ago when Solskjaer’s plans to use a front three of Jadon Sancho, Mason Greenwood and Marcus Rashford were upset when Ronaldo was signed from Juventus late in the window — affecting the balance of the team.
Boehly is mindful to leave footballing decisions to the experts and Sterling is close to sealing a £45million move from Manchester City.
He will sign a five-year deal with the option of an additional 12 months that would keep him at Stamford Bridge until he is 33.
The England winger is understood to be excited about playing in Tuchel’s flexible formation having been reduced to a bit-part player under Pep Guardiola last season.
Having lost centre-backs Rudiger and Andreas Christensen, Chelsea are also prioritising a centre-back with French international Kimpembe available for £51m from PSG as they target Inter Milan’s Milan Skriniar. Chelsea are close to completing a £35m deal for their former central defender Nathan Ake of Manchester City.
Chelsea have also agreed a fee with Leeds United for Raphinha but the player prefers Spain and Barca believe they can afford him and Robert Lewandowski by selling an addition tranche of their future TV rights this month.
Once Dembele or Raphinha arrive, Chelsea are happy to listen to offers for Hakem Ziyech, Timo Werner and Christian Pulisic.
Barca midfielder Frenkie de Jong is also reluctant to go to Old Trafford and miss out on Champions League football, leaving United having to consider alternatives for a deeplying midfielder who is good on the ball. Christian Eriksen is yet to confirm his move and Erik ten Hag is also looking at his former Ajax player Edson Alvarez.