Expert shares emphatic Chelsea claim after source’s £59m double deal news
Noel Whelan has backed Chelsea to become title contenders if they can wrap up a double deal for Raheem Sterling and Cristiano Ronaldo.
The former Leeds striker, speaking exclusively to Football Insider, insisted the ambitious swoops could also benefit the Londoners from a marketing standpoint.
Football Insider revealed on Thursday (7 July) that Chelsea are preparing a £14million bid for Man United superstar Ronaldo, 37, after he made clear his desire to depart Old Trafford this summer.
It is understood that the Blues have already agreed a £45million deal for Sterling, 27 with Man City and are expected to complete the transfer by the end of the week.
Sterling notched 13 goals in 30 league games for the English champions in the 2021-22 season, while Ronaldo managed 18 strikes in 30 top-flight outings.
When asked if Chelsea would be title contenders if they can tie up a double deal, Whelan told Football Insider‘s Ewan Kingsbury: “Absolutely.
“With Sterling and what he provides in terms of goals and assists – it’s a huge risk for Man City to sell him on to a rival. The contract situation has forced their hand – but Chelsea will be over the moon to get him.
“Him and Ronaldo can feed off each other – especially with the sort of positions that Sterling takes up. It’d be fantastic.
“They’d absolutely be title contenders. Not only that, they’d be bringing in an unbelievable amount of merchandise sales. It works on both sides for Chelsea if they can go and get Ronaldo and Sterling through the door.”
Chelsea could only manage a third-place finish in the 2021-22 season.
The Blues’ last league title came in the 2016-17 campaign.
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