Chelsea have been handed a huge boost in Todd Boehly's mission to sign Cristiano Ronaldo. The 37-year-old was heavily linked with a move to Stamford Bridge in the summer as the Blues looked to replace the departing Romelu Lukaku and Timo Werner.
It's said that former boss Thomas Tuchel was opposed to signing the Manchester United striker, and a move to west London ultimately fell through. Then, speculation of a move to Chelsea burst into life once more after Ronaldo refused to come on against Tottenham last month.
Talk of leaving Old Trafford was quickly swept under the carpet after the Portugal international and Erik ten Hag put their differences aside. However, Ronaldo's eye-opening interview with Pier Morgan has reignited links with a move to Chelsea.
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According to CBS journalist Ben Jacobs, Ronaldo's agent Jorge Mendes will offer his client to the Blues, but a move 'remains complicated'. The report confirms that Tuchel was a primary 'roadblock' in negotiations last summer, with the German refusing to hold serious discussions over signing the striker.
It's said that the former Chelsea boss reached out to Ralf Rangnick to get a second opinion on the five-time Ballon d'Or winner and he wasn't quickly convinced that signing Ronaldo was not a good decision. Jacobs claims that Tuchel also became very irritable whenever the topic of signing the striker was raised.
It remains to be whether Graham Potter is interested in signing Ronaldo, though the new Blues boss has kept his cards close to his chest. Speaking ahead of the west Londoners' home clash with AC Milan in the Champions League, he said: "We can spend all day with these questions, but I'm not going to speak about this. If they are not our players, I am not going to speak to them."
Ronaldo's increasingly uncertain future at United coincides with Potter's desire to sign a striker in the upcoming transfer window. According to French outlet Jeunes Footeux, the 47-year-old wants to sign a No.9 in January.
But, the report states that former Arsenal target Jonathan David has been shortlisted, who is a considerably younger option to Ronaldo. This offers a hint into what Potter could want in a talisman...
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