Chelsea manager Thomas Tuchel has dead-batted ongoing transfer links with Manchester United striker Cristiano Ronaldo and Bayern Munich frontman Robert Lewandowski — but has not ruled out another high-profile move this summer window.
After finishing third in the Premier League last season, Chelsea have welcomed Raheem Sterling to the club from Manchester City this summer and now want to prioritise defensive recruits, with Kalidou Koulibaly and Nathan Ake on their radar. However, the west Londoners are still yet to offset the loan exit of Romelu Lukaku with any striker incomings.
Following that transfer, Chelsea have been heavily linked with Ronaldo — who wants to leave United this summer — and Poland captain Lewandowski. However, the public stance from Old Trafford is that Ronaldo is not for sale and Erik ten Hag wants to work with him.
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Chelsea are first striving to replace outgoing centre-backs Antonio Rudiger and Barcelona signing Andreas Christensen. But while Tuchel left the door open for bringing in a new striker, the German offered very little when pressed on Ronaldo and Lewandowski specifically.
During an interview with Sky Sports, the Chelsea boss said: "Any chance I do not comment on them? Because that is what will happen.
"We will stick to that and I will not comment on them. Their careers speak for themselves and it is not needed for me to give another comment and put rumours out there which do not help anybody, and we will announce when there is something to announce."
Tuchel continued: "I would not rule it out [signing another striker], but this is not the priority, the priority right now is defence. Everybody knows that and this is not a secret, from there we need to see what is possible."
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