Chelsea are reportedly readying a £14 million bid for Manchester United forward Cristiano Ronaldo after discussions between Todd Boehly and Thomas Tuchel.
According to Football Insider, Chelsea could be ready to follow up on their interest in Cristiano Ronaldo by making a £14 million offer for the Manchester United attacker. The 37-year-old is keen on quitting the Red Devils, and the Blues look like his only viable option.
Cristiano Ronaldo’s future is heavily scrutinised as speculation mounts on the Portuguese superstar’s immediate situation. The 37-year-old has made his intentions to quit Manchester United clear as agent Jorge Mendes continues to find a suitable option for the striker.
Ronaldo returned to Manchester United amid much fanfare and ended the season as the club’s top scorer with 24 goals in all competitions. However, Manchester United’s failure to qualify for the UEFA Champions League has left the Portugal international distraught as he does not wish to compete in the UEFA Europa League.
Ronaldo does not want to play one of his last years at an elite level in Europe’s second-tier competition and continues to instruct his agent to find a club playing in the Champions League. Unfortunately, there are hardly any clubs that could match the Manchester United forward’s criteria and the possible high salary he will demand.
Cristiano Ronaldo last season:
? Most Premier League POTM awards
? Most Man United POTM awards
? Man United’s Player of the Year
⚽️ Man United’s top scorer
⚽️ Man United’s Goal of the Season
? Included in Premier League Team of the Year pic.twitter.com/I3zRF70xDZ— ESPN FC (@ESPNFC) July 6, 2022
Bayern Munich CEO Oliver Kahn recently ruled a move out for Ronaldo, which leaves Chelsea and possibly Napoli as the only other suitors. The Partenopei are unlikely to afford Ronaldo’s current salary demands, which indicates that Chelsea could be the only realistic option for the Manchester United talisman.
Chelsea had been offered Ronaldo after he decided to quit Manchester United. The 37-year-old has been discussed between owner Todd Boehly and manager Thomas Tuchel, and they are preparing a £14 million offer for the Portuguese international.
Chelsea are on the verge of signing Raheem Sterling from Manchester City and could turn their attention towards Ronaldo. The 37-year-old could be the ideal short-term replacement for Romelu Lukaku, who re-joined Inter Milan on loan after a failed move back to Stamford Bridge, lasting a single season.
Ronaldo also brings tremendous commercial opportunities, and Chelsea are keen following a turbulent few months that included government sanctions and the controversies surrounding former owner Roman Abramovich. Moreover, Chelsea can also offer him Champions League football, and the club will possibly pay an excessive salary to the Manchester United star.
Manchester United continues to maintain Ronaldo is not for sale. However, if the Red Devils can find a solution in the market, they might be open to selling him, even to a direct rival like Chelsea.
