Aubameyang to Chelsea edges closer
FT Desk
- 22 Aug 2022 17:20 BST
- 3 min read
Chelsea are on the cusp of signing former Arsenal striker Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang from Barcelona.
Chelsea are set to take their summer transfer spending little under €230 million with the acquisition of Aubameyang from Barcelona.
The Blues have already acquired Marc Cucurella, Raheem Sterling and Kalidou Koulibaly for big money this summer, but they have remained in the market for a new striker.
Neither Romelu Lukaku nor Timo Werner worked out last season, and the pair have been allowed to return to former clubs Inter Milan and RB Leipzig, the former on loan.
January: Arsenal pay Aubameyang £7m and £230k a week to join Barcelona on €2m wages
August: Chelsea ready to pay £20m to bring him back to the Premier League
Barcelona could pull a blinder here 😲https://t.co/sg926Unw2L— Football Transfers (@Transfersdotcom) August 18, 2022
Aubameyang looks to be that man, with Relevo reporting that Chelsea and Barcelona are closing on a deal which would see the London club pay €22m up front with a further €5m in variables.
Why it's good for Chelsea
Aubemeyang has a proven track record as a Premier League goalscorer, and he plundered 68 goals in 128 top-flight appearances with Arsenal before leaving for Barcelona in February.
He saw out the campaign as Barca's 13-goal top scorer in all competitions despite playing less than half a season at Camp Nou, so he still has it even at 33 years of age.
Chelsea coach Thomas Tuchel has also previously worked with Aubameyang at Borussia Dortmund, the pair winning the DFB Cup together in 2017.
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Why it's good for Barcelona
While Aubameyang has goals in him, so too does Robert Lewandowski, whom Barca paid Bayern Munich €50m for in July.
Lewandowski was part of a transfer influx at Camp Nou, but fellow new arrival Jules Kounde hasn't yet been registered with the debt-ridden club falling foul of La Liga's financial regulations.
Barca need to sell players to further balance the books, and cashing in north of €20m on a player they signed for free six months ago represents good business.
