Chelsea was held to a 1-1 draw by RB Salzburg in the Champions League on Wednesday, leaving Graham Potter with much to work on following his first game in charge of the Blues.
Summer commitment Despite assisting Raheem Sterling’s goal, Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang failed to impress for the second game in a row, and his worrisome performance may have just given Cristiano Ronaldo another lifeline in his bid to leave Manchester United.
Thomas Tuchel‘s exit had already reignited some hope in the 37-year-old’s chances of joining the Blues in January, but those hopes may have increased even further after former Brighton manager Potter was told he needs an urgent fix for Aubameyang’s below-par performances
When discussing players who were lacking confidence in the draw with Salzburg on Wednesday, former England striker Peter Crouch told BT Sport: “Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang as well the last few games. I think there are a few players suffering with a little bit of a lack of confidence so that’s something he [Potter] really needs to address.”
The Gabon international is a guaranteed goalscorer at this level, but should he fail to rediscover his form between now and January, then the Blues could certainly revive their attempts to land Ronaldo from Man United if they are in need of a fresh option in attack.
Given that former boss Tuchel is no longer in the building, the chances of this happening are certainly higher. During the summer, the German made a fuss about the signing of Ronaldo and demanded that he not be purchased, prompting Chelsea officials to abandon any plans for a move.
Todd Boehly, the American owner, was so determined to sign Ronaldo that he met with the Portuguese agent Jorge Mendes in July, but a deal fell through due to Tuchel’s intervention.
Rejecting Ronaldo and instead signing Aubameyang from Barcelona ‘angered’ Boehly, according to German outlet BILD.
But, with Tuchel gone, Boehly has a good chance of reviving a deal for the five-time Ballon d’Or winner.
Boehly explained how Tuchel’s sacking came after a disagreement on their respective visions for Chelsea, while Potter emerged as the Blues’ priority replacement candidate, suggesting his ideas for the club are more aligned with its owners.
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