Merson says he 'cannot believe' Chelsea haven't made Ronaldo move

Paul Merson ‘cannot believe’ Chelsea haven’t made a move for Cristiano Ronaldo – after they dropped their interest in the wantaway Man United star this summer – as he says striker ‘ticks all the boxes’ for Thomas Tuchel

• Paul Merson says Chelsea should sign Manchester United star Cristiano Ronaldo
• The former Arsenal man believes the 37-year-old forward ‘ticks all of their boxes’
• The Portuguese star has made his desire to leave Old Trafford this summer clear
• Chelsea were linked with a potential move for Ronaldo earlier in the summer 

Former Arsenal star Paul Merson insists Chelsea should sign Manchester United’s wantaway star Cristiano Ronaldo as he ‘ticks all of their boxes’.

The Portuguese superstar has made his desire to leave Old Trafford this summer clear in pursuit of playing Champions League football and even missed the club’s pre-season tour.

The 37-year-old has been linked with numerous clubs including Bayern Munich, Atletico Madrid and the Blues, who last month ruled themselves out of a move for the former Real Madrid forward.

Cristiano Ronaldo has made his desire to leave Manchester United clear this summer

Chelsea co-owner Todd Boehly raised the prospect of signing the star after meeting his agent

Chelsea co-owner Todd Boehly, part of an American group which took over the club in May, raised the prospect of bringing the star to Stamford Bridge following a meeting with the player’s agent, Jorge Mendes, in Portugal.

However, following discussions, the decision was made not to pursue the Portugal international.

It is thought that boss Thomas Tuchel wants to focus on the team rather than the individual and believes Raheem Sterling, signed from Manchester City for £47.5m, better fits the bill.

Boss Thomas Tuchel and Todd Boehly made the decision not to pursue Ronaldo last month

Speaking to Sky Sports, Merson said: ‘I cannot believe they didn’t or haven’t gone in for Cristiano Ronaldo. He just ticks all of the boxes Chelsea are lacking.

‘Playing for Chelsea is not like playing for Manchester United, who are working from the halfway line.

‘Chelsea are on the edge of the box, dominating games.

‘Chelsea have unbelievable wing-backs, they dominate football matches, if they were putting the ball into the box for Ronaldo I would dread to think how many goals he could score.’

Paul Merson cannot believe Chelsea haven’t signed Ronaldo as he ‘ticks all of the boxes’

Ronaldo featured for United in their heavy 4-0 defeat to Brentford on Saturday after starting the first match of the season, a 2-1 loss to Brighton & Hove Albion on the bench.

Back-to-back defeats and a lack of service could see Ronaldo even further frustrated by United insisting the forward is not for sale. 

The Blues are still, however, lacking options up front with Romelu Lukaku leaving to re-join Inter Milan on loan and Timo Werner heading back to RB Leipzig for £25million.

Kai Havertz and Raheem Sterling are the main options at Tuchel’s disposal in attack, but they are extremely light, with no real out-and-out striker in the squad. 

They have been linked with Barcelona striker Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang to fill that void in recent weeks. 

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