Chelsea and Marseille in Talks Over Potential Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang Move
Chelsea and Marseille are currently engaged in discussions regarding a potential transfer move for Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang. The 34-year-old striker has expressed interest in joining Marseille, but the deal is complicated due to financial considerations. Chelsea is seeking a transfer fee for Aubameyang, who currently earns over £160,000-a-week ($209kpw) at Stamford Bridge. In order for the transfer to progress, a compromise will need to be reached, as Marseille may struggle to afford the striker otherwise.
Aubameyang is still under contract with Chelsea until next summer, having joined the club from Barcelona last August. Therefore, Chelsea would require a transfer fee in order to allow him to leave. Talks between Chelsea and Marseille are reportedly going well, although the situation is delicate.
Interestingly, Aubameyang’s scheduled return date for pre-season training at Chelsea has been pushed back for the third time. Initially, he was expected to report on July 12, then today (Monday), but a few days ago, he was informed to come on Tuesday instead. Notably, Aubameyang has not been included in Chelsea’s pre-season tour squad to the U.S., which departs on Monday. However, the former Arsenal player intends to comply with the request and show up for training on Tuesday.
Aubameyang was signed by Chelsea under previous head coach Thomas Tuchel, with whom he had previously worked at Borussia Dortmund. However, following Tuchel’s departure, Aubameyang had limited opportunities during a turbulent season at Stamford Bridge. He managed to score just three goals in 22 appearances across all competitions.
Chelsea is currently undergoing a summer exodus under new head coach Mauricio Pochettino. Several key players, including N’Golo Kante, Mateo Kovacic, Kalidou Koulibaly, Edouard Mendy, Kai Havertz, Mason Mount, Christian Pulisic, Cesar Azpilicueta, and Ruben Loftus-Cheek, have already left the club on permanent deals. Additionally, Romelu Lukaku and Callum Hudson-Odoi are also likely to depart, with Inter bidding for Lukaku and Fulham having had an offer rejected for Hudson-Odoi last week.
As negotiations continue between Chelsea and Marseille for Aubameyang’s potential move, it remains to be seen how the situation will unfold. Both clubs will need to find a compromise that satisfies the financial demands of the transfer. For now, Aubameyang’s future at Chelsea hangs in the balance, and fans eagerly await further developments.
[Go Deeper: As a parting of the ways beckons with Chelsea, what next for Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang?]
(Photo: Alex Pantling/Getty Images)