Chelsea have been searching long and hard for a centre-forward to back-up Tammy Abraham, and now a new target has emerged. According to ESPN, the Blues have a keen eye on Arsenal forward Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang for a possible transfer.
Chelsea Showing Interest in Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang
Aubameyang’s Current Situation
Aubameyang’s contract in north London expires in June 2021 meaning the Gunners have to cash in now with only a year remaining. That is if they want to avoid another fiasco of a player running down his contract and leaving on a free.
Currently, Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang earns almost £200,000 a week at Arsenal. According to Transfermarkt, he’d command roughly £50 million ($61.6 million) on the open market. For Arsenal, that would be a nice infusion of cash to fund new manager Mikel Arteta’s project.
With academy graduate Eddie Nketiah making his Premier League debut, starting the final three matches at centre-forward before the Coronavirus stoppage, Arsenal are looking to the future. Despite his talent and individual success at the Emirates, he clearly isn’t in Arsenal’s future plans.
Chelsea’s Current Centre-Forward Situation
Tammy Abraham, 22, has lead the line superbly for the Blues in his first Premier League season, scoring 15 goals and adding six assists across all competitions. However, the Blues do not have adequate back -up for the youngster.
Both the ageing Olivier Giroud and perennially underwhelming Michy Batshuayi have had to fill the void during Abaraham’s injury absences. Quite frankly, neither did so particularly well. This is why manager Frank Lampard wants to bring in another centre-forward to replace the two.
Chelsea have previously been linked to Lyon’s Moussa Dembele, RB Leipzig’s Timo Werner, and many others. So chasing someone as talented as Aubameyang, a Premier League Golden Boot Winner in 2018/19, makes sense. Throw in the fact he has somewhat of a reduced price-tag with only a year left on his contract, and this looks like a steal for Chelsea.
But there’s one big question that will ultimately hold up this transfer.
Aubameyang’s Role At Chelsea?
He may turn 31 this summer, but Auba, as he’s affectionately known, has plenty of gas left in the tank. That Golden Boot he won? It was his first full season in the Premier League, after joining the Gunners in January 2018.
This year, before the stoppage, he sat second in the league, behind Jamie Vardy, with 17 goals after only 28 games played. Despite his age, he’s still banging in the goals. He’s played professionally for 13 seasons, and five of those didn’t feature European football.
Aubameyang has far fewer miles on his legs than most world-class strikers at almost 31. So, if he goes to Chelsea, what does the club expect out of him. Will he go to be Tammy Abraham’s wise, veteran back-up? Or will he get the chance to compete for the starting job, meaning academy graduate and England international Abraham sits?
That is the key question.
Most likely, Chelsea want the older veteran to help guide the 22-year-old as he develops into a full professional during the club’s youth movement. However, Aubameyang probably does not want that role. Nor has Father Time caught up to him yet anyway.
Of course, Arsenal would prefer not to sell to a Premier League rival, especially London rival Chelsea. But Aubameyang wouldn’t be the first to transfer between the two. Just don’t expect him to become the next one, no matter how incredible it would be to see Arsenal’s club captain to make the switch the Stamford Bridge.
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