Chelsea are close to receiving the ‘green light’ to pursue and put an official offer in for Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang after a key figure was spotted in Barcelona ‘offices’ to hint at work going on behind the scenes.
The Blues attacking frailties were exposed once more in their opening 2022/23 Premier League game as a Jorginho penalty spared the blushed of the likes of Kai Havertz and Co who blanked in the 1-0 away victory at Goodison Park against Everton. Timo Werner was left out of the squad as his permanent return to RB Leipzig was progressing behind the scenes and with the German now in his home nation to complete his Chelsea exit, a contingency plan will have to be made on the incomings side of things.
Cristiano Ronaldo was linked earlier in the summer but manager Thomas Tuchel said no. Benjamin Sesko and others like Memphis Depay have also been sounded out but both are set to join RB Leipzig and Juventus respectively. Leaving the former Arsenal talisman as the main option now with The Telegraph reporting that Todd Boehly will find out this week if Barcelona are willing to potentially sell both him and Depay in the same transfer window despite the initial indications being that only one will go.
However, recent developments in the Spanish city suggest that the Blues board could be getting the ‘green light’ sooner than expected. This is because as per Spanish Journalist Gerard Romero, ‘An intermediary who was involved in Aubameyang to Barca is currently in the Barca offices because Chelsea is pushing to sign him.’
If Chelsea were successful in uniting the Gabon international with Tuchel, an idea which the manager likes based on recent quotes, Boehly will have to potentially pay up to £17million for the 33-year-old.
“if Chelsea for instance comes with 15 or 20 million euros, this economical situation in Barcelona, maybe they have to convince Xavi and the player that leaving is going to be the best option for them,” Spanish football expert Alvaro Montero told Sky Sports.
“So Lewandowski being the first striker will mean Aubameyang is not going to play. Xavi has told the club and the player himself that he wants him to stay. Aubameyang knows that Chelsea want to sign him. Even football club Barcelona do too. The only difference is that Robert Lewandowski is going to be the number 9 for Xavi, for sure, even Aubameyang realises.”
