Chelsea outcast Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang tells former Barcelona teammates he wants to RETURN to Nou Camp with the striker out of favor at Stamford Bridge… but he is not a priority signing for Xavi
Chelsea striker Pierre Emerick Aubameyang has been in touch with former Barcelona teammates to tell them he is keen to return.
Aubameyang has endured a torrid time at Stamford Bridge but is not Barca’s priority this summer.
Chelsea, who have signed another winger this summer – Benfica’s 18-year-old Diego Moreira – remain in talks about more additions but will inevitably let Aubameyang go.
They have held talks about popular Barcelona midfielder Gavi, who will also become a free transfer this summer if his contract is not registered, and have gauged Rafael Leao’s situation at AC Milan over the past week.
Any deal for Leao is complicated by compensation claims and resale clauses from his previous clubs Sporting Lisbon and Lille.
Chelsea striker Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang has told ex-Barca teammates he wants to return
However, Xavi’s Barcelona is not prioritizing a move for the Blues striker who is out of favour
Chelsea, who are expected to appoint Mauricio Pochettino as manager, also retain a stake in Atalanta striker Rasmus Hojlund.
Todd Boehly stressed to Mason Mount last week that he remains part of their plans, but the reality is that despite all their spending, there will still be some work to be done this summer with some expected departures.
Last week, a report in the Mirror claimed that Barcelona were aiming a double attack on Chelsea for both Aubameyang and midfielder N’Golo Kante.
That’s what the report claimed Xavi has a list of targets and will offer Kante a two-year contract, with the LaLiga club seeking an answer from Aubameyang in the first week of June.
Kante signed for Chelsea in the summer of 2016, taking part in a £30 million deal from Premier League-winning Leicester.
In the meantime, Aubameyang joined from Camp Nou on deadline day in September 2022 but has not been able to match his form from when he first joined Barcelona.
In that first season, he scored 13 times in 23 appearances following the sour end to his time at Arsenal – where he was ruled out for disciplinary offenses under then-boss Mikel Arteta.