Chelsea are said to be in advanced talks to sign Barcelona forward Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang to a permanent contract.
Following the exits of Romelu Lukaku and Timo Werner to Inter Milan and RB Leipzig, the Blues are looking for a new center-forward before the transfer window closes.
Aubameyang has surfaced as one of Thomas Tuchel’s main targets, with the German coach having previously worked with the 33-year-old at Borussia Dortmund.
According to Sky Sports News, Chelsea and Barcelona are nearing an agreement on a deal for Aubameyang.
According to the report, the two clubs are negotiating a fee of between £15m and £25m, with Chelsea seeking to include Marcos Alonso in a player-plus-cash deal, while Barcelona prefers a straight cash payment.
Aubameyang, who scored 79 goals in two seasons under Tuchel at Dortmund, joined the Catalan giants on a free transfer from Arsenal in January, but he appears to have dropped down the pecking order under Xavi following the big-money signing of Robert Lewandowski.
The 70-cap Gabonese international has only played eight minutes in Barcelona’s first two La Liga games of the season, and he was an omitted substitute in Sunday’s 4-1 victory over Real Sociedad.
Related: Barcelona Need To Raise £17m To Register Jules Kounde Before Transfer Deadline Day
What did Tuchel Say About Aubameyang Joining Chelsea?
The former Arsenal striker is understood to be open to returning to the Premier League and reconnecting with Tuchel at Stamford Bridge, where he is more likely to see regular first-team action.
Tuchel stated earlier this month that he has a close relationship with Aubameyang and considers him to be “one of his players.”
“I enjoyed a lot working with him, it was a pleasure. This has nothing to do with the situation now, but some players stay your players because you were very, very close and Auba is one of those players,” Tuchel told the press.
“We had a very close relationship. Always when he played here with Arsenal, it was straight away this close bond. They always stay your players in a way and Auba is one of those players.”
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