Chelsea are on the hunt for a new striker, with Romelu Lukaku's return to Inter Milan expected to be announced in the coming days and a shock move for Manchester United's Cristiano Ronaldo could be on the cards.
Lukaku's return to Chelsea has not gone to plan, with the Belgian managing just eight Premier League goals and causing plenty of unrest with an ill-judged interview in December in which he revealed he never wanted to leave the San Siro in the first place. There are only reportedly the final details of the loan to go through.
It is set to be one of the most important transfer windows in years for the Blues as Thomas Tuchel prepares his side for the 2022-23 campaign and new co-owner Todd Boehly appears aware of the challenge. Earlier this week he held a meeting with super-agent Jorge Mendes to discuss a number of topics, one of which was reportedly his most high-profile client.
READ MORE: Cristiano Ronaldo to Chelsea transfer: Todd Boehly meeting, Man Utd stance, Joao Felix advantage
Ronaldo returned to Old Trafford last summer and while United left their fans severely unimpressed, the 37-year-old still mustered 24 goals in all competitions. However, his position under new manager Erik Ten Hag has been the subject of speculation and Chelsea have apparently been eager to explore the situation, according to The Athletic.
However, United are taking a tough stance on the latest rumours. According to a report from The Mirror, United are not happy with the suggestion they may lose one of their prized assets. A source told the publication that “Cristiano is not for sale,” and that “we want - and fully expect - him to be with us next season.”
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