Could Cristiano Ronaldo suddenly be back on the table for Chelsea before the September 1 deadline?
Multiple things need to fall in place for the Portuguese to be donning blue before the transfer window slams shut. However, United's U-turn into now considering a shock sale of their top goalscorer from last season following the Brentford fallout offers manager Thomas Tuchel another option. Tuchel himself rejected the chance to sign the 37-year-old in the early parts of the transfer window after owner Todd Boehly had met up with super agent Jorge Mendes in Portugal.
But the latest developments on target number one Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang could alter Tuchel's stance in these circumstances as he seeks a short-term striker option to compete and challenge with Kai Havertz and Armando Broja. The Evening Standard have reported that little progress has been made so far on convincing the 33-year-old that an early return to the Premier League is the right thing at this stage of his career.
READ MORE: Aubameyang signs, Sterling starts - Thomas Tuchel's dream Chelsea front three after £300m spend
With this in mind, Ronaldo to Chelsea could reignite anytime soon but they face a few new obstacles to get him. The Manchester Evening News have reported that despite the Red Devils' overall stance to want to part ways with CR7, owner Joel Glazer actually wants to keep him for the last year of his contract still. This is most likely a commercial and business viewpoint from the Tampa Bay Buccaneers owner.
On top of this, his girlfriend Georgina Rodriguez prefers a move abroad to Spain for family reasons. With all of this in mind, football.london previews Chelsea's alternative dream attack if £350m spend is completed by Boehly.
Ronaldo, if signed as the new betting odds drop suggests, would be a guaranteed starter ahead of both Havertz and Broja. Raheem Sterling would play on the left as he has done so far in this early part of 2022/23.
On the opposite wing, if Anthony Gordon is eventually signed amid the latest £45m offer being rejected outright by Everton, he would play on the right and force Mason Mount into a potential deeper role which he may need to fill in immediately due to the injury woes of both N'Golo Kante and Mateo Kovacic.
Alternatively, if Gordon is not signed, Wilfried Zaha could be an option that is looked over seriously with the one year left on his contract meaning that he is certainly attainable to get at a reduced price.
Starting front three: Raheem Sterling, Anthony Gordon, Cristiano Ronaldo.
Substitute options: Armando Broja, Kai Havertz, Christian Pulisic and Harvey Vale.
Chelsea fans - What do you make of this front three if the primary Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang plan wasn't to work out? Leave your thoughts in the comments section below!
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