Todd Boehly's preemptive meeting with Jorge Mendes looks to have paid off, with Chelsea tipped to sign the Manchester United striker this summer. The 37-year-old has been heavily linked with an exit from Old Trafford, and the west Londoners have emerged as a likely destination.
According to The Times, the Portugal international has asked the Red Devils to respect his decision to leave the club should they receive a 'satisfactory offer'. It's believed that Ronaldo's verdict is driven by his desire to play in the Champions League this season, with Erik ten Hag set to guide United into the Europa League.
And, with Chelsea reportedly considering a move for the striker, Todd Bohely could have already earned a head start after having met with super-agent Jorge Mendes in Portugal to discuss the player's future. The report adds that the five-time Ballon d'Or winner, who sees his contract at Old Trafford expire in just 12 months, has already been offered to Bayern Munich, but the German giants have baulked at the proposal.
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Whether or not the west Londoners table a bid is yet to be seen, but Boehly will check with Thomas Tuchel before escalating Chelsea's interest, The Times added. The Blues boss has already labelled the Portuguese star as 'one of the greatest' players of all time amid shock transfer talks between new owner Boehly and Mendes.
Tuchel said, as quoted by The Daily Express: "Time will tell, but I think it is not a secret that any team in the world without Cristiano [Ronaldo] is in some parts of the game a weaker team.
"He is one of the greatest who has ever played this game, and he proves it every time he is on the field. Now [he is] in the Premier League and in the Champions League, so they lost a big champion, a big point of reference and a big personality. But you can win games and be a strong team without Cristiano Ronaldo. This is also true."
With Ronaldo somewhat on Chelsea's radar this summer, the Blues have been marked as favourites to sign the evergreen talisman, according to Betfair. Bayern, who, despite having already turned their noses up at a deal, are said to be the second most-likely destination, with Jose Mourinho's AS Roma in contention too.
The west Londoners have shot down from 14/1 on Saturday to become favourites. So we, football.london, present the latest odds on Ronaldo's future ahead of a potential departure from United before September 3 2022:
Chelsea: 7/4 (was 7/2 this morning)
Bayern Munich: 5/2
Roma: 6/1
Real Madrid: 8/1
Paris Saint-Germain: 12/1
Juventus: 14/1
Sporting Lisbon: 14/1
Inter: 22/1
Manchester City: 22/1
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