Thomas Tuchel Makes Chelsea Attacking Transfer Decision Amid Cristiano Ronaldo And Neymar Links

Thomas Tuchel has not ruled out Chelsea signing a striker this summer but insists it isn’t their priority amid links to Manchester United forward Cristiano Ronaldo. 

Chelsea saw their incoming transfer business get underway this week with the confirmation of Raheem Sterling’s signing from Manchester City for around £50 million. 

Other attackers are being considered but the attention has been shifted to defensive additions.

Napoli defender Kalidou Koulibaly has flown to London to undergo his Chelsea medical, while Nathan Ake talks with Man City are ongoing as a deal is hoped to be done by next week. 

Both Cristiano Ronaldo and Neymar have been offered to Chelsea this summer, with another attacking signing being considered. 

Romelu Lukaku has left Chelsea this summer for a return to Inter Milan, leaving Armando Broja, Kai Havertz and Timo Werner as the only real credible options to play down the middle. 

Goals are important to Chelsea, something they lacked in crucial stages of the season last term, but Tuchel has insisted they are keeping their options open in the summer transfer window. 

He told Sky Sports: "I would not rule it out (signing another striker) but right now it is not the priority. The priority right now is defence, it's not a secret. From there we need to see what's possible.

"We're competing against the two top teams but Tottenham did a very active and aggressive and early transfer period, they have maybe the strongest squad they ever had with one of the best coaches in the world, Man Utd are never shy of recruiting with a new coach and Arsenal had some big signings already so we need to keep the level up to be competitive."

Lukaku will return to Chelsea next summer, however, whether he has a future at Stamford Bridge remains unclear. 

Tuchel refused to rule it out, saying: “Given the chance he is on loan, of course there is the chance, I don’t know if it’s very likely. It's not on me to give an outlook on that.

"There is a chance for it. We decided together we let him go."

There is work to be done for Tuchel and the new owners in July and August rebuilding the squad. 

Chelsea are currently out in the United States for their pre-season tour and Tuchel acknowledges that signings are needed due to the several departures they have seen in the last month. 

He continued: "It's no secret we lost top players and we need to replace them. Even if they'd have stayed, we needed improvement to close the gap so we need now even more.

"We have top players and even more importantly we have a top team. But if we bring players in we need top quality with top character and then you're talking about the very, very best who play this game.”