NOU JOBS FOR AUBA & N’GOLO
BARCELONA want to take N’golo Kante and Pierre-emerick Aubameyang to the Nou Camp.
Chelsea team-mate Hakim Ziyech is wanted by Napoli and could be used as bait in any potential move to bring Victor Osimhen or Khvica Kvaratskhelia to Stamford Bridge.
A huge summer clearout is on the cards after Todd Boehly and fellow co-owners splashed £600million on new signings in the past 12 months.
And while the departures of Aubameyang and Ziyech will come as little surprise, the fact Barca believe Kante might be available will divide opinion among Chelsea fans.
The World Cup-winning midfielder’s contract expires in the summer – but the Blues have an option to extend his stay.
That option runs out next month, though, and if Boehly and his hierarchy have not triggered it by then, the door will open to suitors.
Barcelona want to offer Kante a two-year deal, although, owing to the Spaniards’ financial situation, his wages will not match those he gets at Stamford Bridge.
Barca are hoping to raise around £180m in sales this summer that they can reinvest in at least three top-quality players.
Boss Xavi has handed a list of proposed targets to the Catalan club’s board and, like Kante, Aubameyang appears on it.
The former Arsenal captain joined Chelsea from Barcelona in September, but he has had a miserable time during his return in the Premier League.
And Barca, where he scored 13 goals in 24 games, will offer him an exit route – albeit on vastly reduced terms and only if they can get him for next to nothing having sold Aubameyang for around £10m.
Xavi wants an answer from Aubameyang by the first week in June.
Napoli’s interest in Ziyech (right) plays into Chelsea’s interest in Nigeria striker Osimhen, who is also in Manchester United’s sights, and Georgian winger Kvaratskhelia, also linked with a transfer to Liverpool.
Ziyech would have joined Paris Saint-germain in January but for an administrative error and he will be on his way at the end of the season – providing he accepts a wage cut.