Chelsea are set to push ahead with the Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang move despite the Barcelona forward suffering a fractured jaw, as per David Ornstein of The Athletic.
Chelsea Continue Talks for Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang Despite Injury Scare
🚨 Intensive talks over Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang from Barcelona to Chelsea continue today. Complicated by 33yo suffering broken jaw during home robbery – expected to be out for a number of weeks. Loan also being considered @TheAthleticUK #CFC #FCBarcelona https://t.co/fdjqvQcoFG
— David Ornstein (@David_Ornstein) August 31, 2022
Move Still On the Cards
The Aubameyang move is still a priority for Chelsea. The London-based club are set to intensify talks to reach an agreement before the transfer deadline. The doubts over the feasibility of the move came after Aubameyang was the unfortunate victim of a violent armed robbery at his family home in Spain.
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According to Diario Sport, the Gabonese striker was struck with the butt of a shotgun by the assailants during the robbery. The striker is set to be out for a month due to a broken jaw.
The Blues still have an active interest in the transfer despite the hurdles. Thomas Tuchel is said to be quite interested in a reunion with his former player, having worked together at Borussia Dortmund.
🚨 Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang broke his jaw after armed burglars smashed his chin with an iron bar in the early hours of Monday morning. 👀
He is expected to be out for weeks, which is a consideration for Chelsea on his potential transfer.
(Source: @David_Ornstein) pic.twitter.com/WuAi8teYfp
— Transfer News Live (@DeadlineDayLive) August 31, 2022
Chelsea’s Dire Need for a Striker
The Blues have made an inauspicious start to the season. They have just seven points in their first five fixtures – disgraceful losses to Leeds United and Southampton further magnified the dire forward crisis in the team. With over £200 million spent during the window, they still miss the killer instinct of a natural striker.
Aubameyang could prove to be the wildcard for Thomas Tuchel. The forward, who was deemed surplus to requirements at Arsenal, was instrumental in Barcelona’s rebuild last season.
He signed for the Catalan club in the January transfer window. With 14 goal contributions in 24 games, the Gabonese quickly became a fan favourite.
A Return to the Premier League
Aubameyang could be set for a return to the Premier League. The Gabonese forward was the captain of Arsenal before his uneventful fall out with Mikel Arteta in his last season.
Read More: Every Premier League Transfer Completed in Summer 2022
Despite the bad end to his Arsenal story, Aubameyang was one of the finest strikers in the Gunners’ recent history. Arriving as an eleventh-hour addition in the January transfer window, he hit the ground running at the Emirates. The striker scored ten goals in 13 appearances after the winter transfer and was on course to his eventual goal-laden career at the Emirates.