Chelsea Transfer News: Why Cristiano Ronaldo Signing Wouldn't Work for Blues

The transfer window might be closed, but it seems as though silly season is already upon us again with the news that Chelsea are ready to hijack a January move by Manchester United for Cristiano Ronaldo.

Anthony Chapman of the Daily Express reports that the Red Devils have “set aside as much as £60 million in a bid to bring Ronaldo back to England” but that “Jose Mourinho has thrown his hat into the ring after forming a close bond with the 29-year-old during their time together in the Spanish capital.”

At just £60 million—around £20 million less than Real Madrid purchased him for in 2009—it would seem a tantalising prospect for Chelsea fans. The best player in the world playing under arguably one of the best managers in the world and alongside the likes of Cesc Fabregas, Eden Hazard and Diego Costa. What could possibly go wrong?

Well, on the face of it, not much. After all, signing one of the greatest players ever would seem like a simple solution to any problem. But that’s the point: Chelsea don’t appear to have too many problems right now.

Yes, the 2014/15 season is only three games old, but the Blues have made such positive impressions already that they are odds-on to lift the Premier League title next May, according to Oddschecker.

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Their early success has largely been down to their two major summer signings, Costa and Fabregas, who have both hit the ground running at Stamford Bridge. Costa, who scored twice in the sensational 6-3 win at Everton, has four goals in three games, while Fabregas, with four assists to his name, looks as though he will be a significant component in the Chelsea midfield.

What is most impressive about Chelsea this season, though, is the sheer strength of their squad. Against Everton, neither World Cup-winner Andre Schurrle nor Brazilian international Oscar featured, yet the midfield of Ramires, Matic, Hazard, Fabregas and Willian still looked superb. So the question, as ridiculous as it may sound, is where would Ronaldo fit in at Chelsea?

The obvious answer would be that he would replace Hazard, the player most in the mould of the Portuguese. If that were to happen, then it would surely signal the end of the Belgian's time at Stamford Bridge and either see him going the other way to Real Madrid or leaving for another of Europe’s elite clubs.

Yet losing last season’s Player of the Year is a move that would probably not go down too well with Chelsea fans, even if the man replacing him was Ronaldo.

At 23, there is no doubt Hazard has his best years in front of him, and he appears to have a strong bond with Jose Mourinho, despite the Chelsea boss questioning his work ethic last season.

Hazard told the Chelsea magazine, via Matt Barlow of the Daily Mail, that the comments were “true and good,” and Mourinho responded this summer by saying to the club's official website (via ESPN.co.uk) that the Belgium international “brings beauty and magic moments” to the game.

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Assuming Hazard does not leave, the only other slots seemingly available for Ronaldo would be those currently rotated between Willian, Schurrle and Oscar. Certainly the Real Madrid man would be an upgrade on Oscar, but would he bring the same defensive capabilities as Willian and Schurrle?

That might not matter to some as long as he is scoring and providing goals, but Mourinho’s teams have always been built around stability, and this Chelsea one is no different. Both Willian and Schurrle work across the entire pitch and along with Matic and Ramires provide excellent cover for the defence—a task Ronaldo is not accustomed to at Real Madrid.

There is also the small matter of status. While Chelsea might have the strongest squad in the Premier League this year, they don’t have the most star-studded squad. That title belongs to Manchester United, and it is easier to see Ronaldo, along with his astronomical wages and ego, fitting in at Old Trafford again than at Stamford Bridge.

Of course, this is not to say Ronaldo at Chelsea definitely would not work; it very well could. But Mourinho will surely only be all too aware from his time at Madrid that signing the biggest names in the world doesn’t always produce the best results.

Instead it is about building a team. And after a year back in the hot seat at Stamford Bridge this is now Mourinho’s team. And so far it looks to be coming along quite nicely, even without the world's best player.