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Cristiano Ronaldo has emerged as a serious transfer option for several clubs - after a major falling out with Saudi Pro League side Al-Nassr.
Chelsea could make a sensational late move for Cristiano Ronaldo with his Al-Nassr future firmly up in the air. The 40-year-old has spent the last few seasons in the Saudi Pro League, but is now threatening to go on strike due to frustrations over how the club are being backed.
A report from Portuguese outlet A Bola, on Sunday, revealed that he was refusing to play for Al-Nassr against Al-Riyadh because he has grown dissatisfied with how the club is being run by Saudi Arabia's Public Investment Fund (PIF).
Ronaldo was linked with a move to Middle Eastern rivals Al-Hilal for their participation in the Club World Cup, but he later signed a two-year contract at Al-Nassr.
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He has scored 18 goals and grabbed three assists from 21 appearances this campaign with his tally since joining the Saudi Pro League now up to 111 goals. The five-time Ballon d'Or winner, who started at Sporting CP, has not scored in just four Saudi Pro League matches in this campaign, with that now up to five as he was omitted from the squad to face Al-Riyadh on Monday.
Both Ronaldo and Al-Nassr will be hoping for this to be resolved swiftly, but a potential switch elsewhere could be the only solution. With so little time left in the winter trading period, a contract termination may be the only option if nothing can be sorted.
Ever since BlueCo took control of the club, links to Chelsea signing Ronaldo have been ever-present. Despite that, the Blues are outside of the frontrunners to sign him. Any MLS club, former team Sporting CP and a different Saudi Pro League club are all ahead, but Chelsea are at 12/1 odds to bring him in.
Real Madrid are also priced lower than that at 10/1 and though a move to Europe does seem unlikely, Ronaldo will be desperately looking to find somewhere he can play ahead of the 2026 World Cup.
He has another ambition in mind - as well - which was revealed in his message after winning Best Middle Eastern Player at the Globe Soccer Awards in December.
Ronaldo said: "You know what my goal is. I want to win trophies and I want to reach that number [1,000 goals] that you all know. I will reach the number for sure, if no injuries."
Considering how his second spell at Manchester United ended, Chelsea will be better off avoiding this deal - with their transfer strategy much more focused on signing younger players.
Jeremy Jacquet was the perfect addition for that with the Blues strongly linked over these last few weeks - and it certainly appearing as though he was set for a move to Stamford Bridge.
However, Premier League rivals Liverpool hijacked that deal and agreed to sign him from Rennes in the summer. In response to that, the Blues have recalled Mamadou Sarr from his loan at Strasbourg.
Aaron Anselmino had spent the first half of the campaign on loan with Borussia Dortmund, but returned to west London earlier this month. He is now heading to Chelsea's sister-club, seemingly as their Sarr replacement, for the next few months.
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