Chelsea have been tipped to sign Cristiano Ronaldo on loan from Manchester United in the January transfer window by former Arsenal striker Kevin Campbell. Erik ten Hag decided to drop the 37-year-old from the squad to face the Blues on Saturday, October 22, after the striker refused to come on against Tottenham Hotspur.
Ronaldo, who sees his contract at Old Trafford expire in the summer, was an unused substitute by the Dutchman as goals from Bruno Fernandes and Fred held Tottenham Hotspur to a 2-0 defeat. The omission of the five-time Ballon d'Or winner from the Red Devils' first-team casts great doubt over his future at the club.
And, Campbell believes that Chelsea will swoop in and prise Ronaldo away via a loan deal. Speaking to talkSPORT, he said: "I think there might be a loan in January.
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"He wants to play Champions League football. Of the four teams that are in the Champions League there’s one – only one – team he can go to. It’s not going to be Spurs. It’s not going to be Liverpool. Yes [it could be Chelsea]. No, not inside info."
However, despite Campbell's prediction, Ten Hag has essentially ruled out Ronaldo's exit from United in January, claiming that he does not expect the Portugal international to leave as a result of the repercussions handed to him. Ahead of the clash with Chelsea, the Red Devils boss was asked whether he thought Ronaldo would remain at the club and whether he wanted him to stay.
He replied: "Both. It [dropping Ronaldo] is for this game and then we continue - it's a strike," Ten Hag added. "As we said in the statement, Cristiano remains an important part of the squad and I count on him for the rest of the season. We want to fulfil our ambitions."
Ronaldo was heavily linked with a move to Chelsea in the summer as Todd Boehly looked to make a marquee signing. The American billionaire met the player's agent, Jorge Mendes, in the summer to discuss a potential move, according to The Athletic. A deal failed to materialise and the west Londoners signed Raheem Sterling instead.
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