Chelsea manager Thomas Tuchel reportedly harbours doubts over a move for wantaway Manchester United attacker Cristiano Ronaldo.
The five-time Ballon d'Or winner is believed to have told the Red Devils that he wants to leave after just one season back at the Theatre of Dreams, despite the arrival of Erik ten Hag.
Ronaldo is supposedly determined to win at least one more Champions League before he hangs up his boots and does not believe that he can fulfil his silverware ambitions with Man United.
The 37-year-old is still under contract at Man United until 2023 with the option of a further year, but he cites a lack of ambition in the transfer market as his primary reason for wanting to seek pastures new.
Only a handful of suitors would be able to accommodate Ronaldo's wages, and Chelsea are believed to be one of the frontrunners following a recent meeting between owner Todd Boehly and agent Jorge Mendes.
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Chelsea will attempt to bring a new number nine to the club before the new Premier League campaign kicks off, as Romelu Lukaku has rejoined Inter Milan on loan while Armando Broja's future is being called into question.
However, the Daily Mail claims that Tuchel is reluctant to welcome Ronaldo into his XI, as the Portuguese's arrival could disrupt the harmony in the Blues boss' preferred forward three.
The report adds that Boehly has handed a good amount of transfer control to Tuchel, who is fearful of repeating Ole Gunnar Solskjaer's mistake of altering his front three for Ronaldo last year.
Ronaldo will not be present at Man United's pre-season training tour of Thailand and Australia due to personal reasons, but the club's sponsors are allegedly pressuring the powers-that-be to keep hold of the veteran attacker.
Ronaldo hit 24 goals and provided three assists in 38 outings for the Red Devils in the 2021-22 season and found the back of the net 18 times in the Premier League.
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However, the ex-Real Madrid and Juventus man could only help Ralf Rangnick's men finish sixth in the table, and he is therefore set to be playing Europa League football next season.
Chelsea boss Tuchel supposedly has a plan in place for his dream front three, which would see false nine Kai Havertz flanked by two new wingers in Raheem Sterling and Raphinha.
The West London club are on the verge of sealing a move for Manchester City's Sterling and are reported to have agreed a £47.5m fee with the English champions for the ex-Liverpool man.
Leeds United's Raphinha is still holding out for a move to Barcelona, but the Catalan giants could soon use up a good portion of their wage bill on agreeing a new deal with Ousmane Dembele.
The Frenchman has supposedly 'never been closer' to signing a new deal at Camp Nou but is still on Chelsea's radar if he ultimately decides to pack his bags and leave Catalonia for good.
Ben Knapton
