Chelsea have reportedly turned down an offer from Galatasaray for Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, who was signed by the club last summer for €12million (£10.3m) from Barcelona. The Gabon international scored just three goals and one assist in 21 appearances for the Blues across all competitions, and has been deemed surplus to requirements by new boss Mauricio Pochettino. While interest in the 34-year-old has been low, Chelsea are said to be keen to recoup some of the money spent on him and have rejected Galatasaray’s offer to sign him on a free transfer. However, Aubameyang is also said to have interest from Saudi Arabia, where Chelsea have already sold three players this summer.
Heading 1: Chelsea Reject Offer for Aubameyang from Galatasaray
Heading 2: Aubameyang’s Disappointing Season at Stamford Bridge
Heading 3: Chelsea Conducting Fire Sale Under Pochettino
Heading 4: Interest in Aubameyang Low, but Saudi Arabia a Possibility
Last summer, Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang made a surprise move to Chelsea from Barcelona for a fee of €12million (£10.3m). The Gabon international was brought in by former manager Thomas Tuchel as a natural No.9, but Tuchel was sacked after just one game and replaced by Graham Potter. Aubameyang scored on Potter’s debut game in charge, but that would be his only Premier League goal of the campaign. He fell out of favour and was a shadow of his former self when he did play.
In all, Aubameyang made just 21 appearances for the Blues, only 11 of them starts, across all competitions, recording just three goals and one assist. With Chelsea now conducting a fire sale under the guidance of new boss Mauricio Pochettino, Aubameyang was expected to be one of the first names out the door, but interest in the 34-year-old has been low.
According to The Telegraph, the west London club have turned down an offer from Turkish side Galatasaray to sign the player on a free transfer as they want to try and recoup at least some of the money spent on him. Given his age and woeful form last season, Chelsea may be better placed just to accept such an offer, given that they need to trim their squad down and it would be very helpful to cut Aubameyang’s £160,000-a-week salary from the wage bill.
However, the report also claims that the striker has interest from Saudi Arabia, where Chelsea have already sold three players this summer. Kalidou Koulibaly, who like Aubameyang only joined Chelsea last summer, Hakim Ziyech and Edouard Mendy are all set to move to the Middle East. Another player leaving Stamford Bridge is Kai Havertz, with the forward on the verge of joining London rivals Arsenal.
In conclusion, Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang’s disappointing season at Stamford Bridge has led to interest in him being low. While Chelsea have rejected an offer from Galatasaray to sign him on a free transfer, they may be better placed just to accept such an offer given his age and form. However, Aubameyang also has interest from Saudi Arabia, where Chelsea have already sold three players this summer. With a fire sale underway at Stamford Bridge, it remains to be seen where Aubameyang will end up next season.