There were plenty of raised eyebrows when the news emerged on Saturday that Chelsea had held a meeting with agent Jorge Mendes with the potential signing of Cristiano Ronaldo one topic on the agenda.
The Portuguese legend returned to Manchester United last summer and scored 18 Premier League goals but still came in for plenty of criticism, with his lack of pressing frequently discussed. His future at Old Trafford has been the subject of speculation since Erik Ten Hag's appointment and Chelsea are considering taking advantage.
With Romelu Lukaku set to return to Inter Milan this week, Thomas Tuchel is in need of a new frontman. According to The Athletic, Todd Boehly met with Mendes this week to discuss a number of topics and the availability of Ronaldo was raised.
READ MORE: Cristiano Ronaldo to Chelsea transfer: Todd Boehly meeting, Man Utd stance, Joao Felix advantage
It is a deal that could potentially aid in another player priority this summer. Boehly is eager to tie Mason Mount down to a new contract and earlier this year spoke of how he used to idolise Ronaldo as a youngster, showing how the signing could push Mount towards a new deal.
"I think everyone has seen the video of when I was younger basing my free kick off him," he told Amazon Prime in an interview earlier this year. "I always watched him very closely when he was at United as a young kid. I loved the way he played, his free kicks.
"I'm a massive Pompey fan, so I went to the game when they played at Old Trafford and he scored that free-kick against David James. I was actually at the game, in the corner so I saw it first hand and I think after that I kind of fell in love with the technique and what he'd done and him as a player.
"So I always try to look at and work out, what can I do, to put it into my game? But now to play against him and be up against him is the journey that you go on from watching someone in the stands as a fan and then to being on the same pitch and playing against them. It's a crazy journey and yeah, that's why I love football so much."
READ NEXT:
Todd Boehly's stance on Declan Rice Chelsea transfer revealed as six signings promised to Tuchel
Chelsea news and transfers LIVE: Cristiano Ronaldo price, Neymar boost, Ousmane Dembele contract
Full Chelsea Premier League fixture list for 2022/23
Jules Kounde arrives, Raphinha joins, Raheem Sterling signs: Chelsea’s dream transfer window
Juventus set fresh Matthijs de Ligt transfer demands as Cristiano Ronaldo to Chelsea 'unlikely'
