The star needs regular playing time ahead of the World Cup, where better than the attack-deficient Toffees?

Just the thought of it is insane right? Five-time Ballon d’Or winner Cristiano Ronaldo leading the line at Everton, even the thought of it is enough to set one off into a paroxysm of laughter.

Yet, it’s not completely bonkers, is it?

Ronaldo has been pushed out of his last couple of clubs as surplus to requirements primarily due to his inability to mesh with other players. It’s a well-known fact that he does well in teams that are built around him, where he can be the prima donna with a supporting cast charged with catering to his whims. That he can consistently find the net should not be doubted, even as at the ripe old age of 37 he remains at peak fitness, and is averaging 34 goals in over 3,600 minutes of action per season over the last five years.

Manchester United outplayed their recent nemesis Liverpool without him, and it’s no secret that Erik ten Haag wants to be rid of the player. With his wage demands, there’s only a handful of super clubs in world football that can afford him, and the ones he has not already played for want nothing to do with him either.

Enter Everton.

It’s three weeks into a new season and it’s already pretty clear that the Toffees are in the shit. Pardon the directness of the expression, but it’s true. Lead striker Dominic Calvert-Lewin is out already with no guarantee that he’ll be able to play a part this season after his injury-wracked campaign last year. Backup striker Salomon Rondon is.. whatever he might be, he is not the solution. Last season’s leading scorer Richarlison is now in London with Tottenham Hotspur and the next best thing on the Toffees roster Anthony Gordon looks to be heading down to the capital as well but with Chelsea instead.

The Blues have been linked with close to a dozen forwards and are no closer to signing any one of them, even as we watch horrified by the Toffees’ futility in front of goal. With a week or so left in the transfer window, the Blues need at least one out and out striker, and an attacking winger with goals in his repertoire, but the key is that both players need to be Premier League level tried and tested. The urgency of the situation now means the Blues do not have the luxury of being able to take a gamble on a couple of players here.

So why Ronaldo and what are the pros and cons of making such a move?

From the player’s perspective, most importantly would be on the footballing side. CR7 would be virtually guaranteed all the playing time he wants before the winter World Cup. It’s clear that the player’s biggest career priority is to lift the one trophy not in his cabinet, so being in prime condition for that tournament will be driving him on.