Cristiano Ronaldo move to Chelsea from Manchester United ‘ticks a box’ for the Blues, claims Merson

Paul Merson has claimed that Chelsea’s ambitious pursuits of Cristiano Ronaldo and Raheem Sterling this summer would be worthwhile options to boost the Blues frontline.

The Blues have struggled in recent seasons to find a main striker following successive summers that have been big name arrivals such as Timo Werner and Romelu Lukaku struggle to settle despite costing over a combined £150million.

Werner continues to hover around the first team following two years at the club after his £53million move from RB Leipzig, while Lukaku is now back at Inter Milan on loan despite signing from the Serie A side for £98million a year ago.

Cristiano Ronaldo has informed Manchester United that he wishes to leave the club

But the Blues have reportedly been in talks with Cristiano Ronaldo over a sensational move for the Manchester United star who has told the club he wishes to leave so he can continue playing in the Champions League at the age of 37.

Former Arsenal midfielder Merson believes the move ‘ticks a box for Chelsea’, but insisted any deal has to be completed sooner rather than later. 

‘I think he might be tempted to leave as it goes – the way it’s going on at the moment,’ Merson wrote in his Sky column.

Paul Merson believes Ronaldo would ‘tick all the boxes’ if he did sign for Chelsea

‘We’re hearing that he wants to play in the Champions League so I think that might happen. 

‘I think it will be a win-win situation if he does go [to Chelsea]. I think it needs to get sorted sooner than later – the season’s like four or five weeks away.

‘It’s been clear Man Utd won’t be in the Champions League for a long time. I don’t know why this wasn’t nipped in the bud early doors.

The Blues are also in the hunt for Raheem Sterling who is also in the frame to move on

‘It’s had to drag on this long. I’d be a bit disappointed if I was a Man Utd fan.’

Thomas Tuchel’s search for a goal scoring forward has also seen the Blues linked with Manchester City star Raheem Sterling.

New Chelsea owner Todd Boehly is trying to make an immediate impact on the club this summer and the Blues are in advanced talks for the England international.

Blues manager Thomas Tuchel is keen to bolster his forward options once again this year

City are prepared to let Sterling leave for a fee of around £50million because he only has one year left on his contract and there aren’t any plans for it to be extended.

‘I think Sterling would be a great signing. I would worry about Man City selling Sterling as you’re selling a lot of goals,’ Merson added.

‘People always go to me, “He’s always at the far post tapping them in”. He’s not pushing anybody out the way to tap those goals in. There’s an art to what he does and he will be a massive miss to Man City next season if he leaves.’