Chelsea close in on Aubameyang to kickstart late spending spree
CHELSEA are increasingly confident of landing Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang as they target at least three big signings before the transfer window closes.
As well as the Barcelona striker, Chelsea are attempting to prise Anthony Gordon from Everton and are plotting a third bid for Leicester defender Wesley Fofana.
Chelsea began the season with a win at Everton and an encouraging performance as they drew with Tottenham, though Sunday’s heavy 3-0 defeat by Leeds underlined the need for reinforcements.
They have navigated their opening games without a senior outandout striker, having loaned Romelu Lukaku to Inter Milan and sold Timo Werner to RB Leipzig. Now former Arsenal captain Aubameyang is emerging as the leading candidate to fill the void.
Talks are progressing over a deal worth around £ 20million that would see Aubameyang, 33, reunited with his former Dortmund boss Tuchel. Aubameyang’s personal terms are not expected to present any obstacles. He scored 79 goals in just 95 games under Tuchel in Germany.
Negotiations are ongoing with Everton over the move for Gordon, 21, who is keen on the move. Chelsea have had four approaches for Gordon turned down, the highest understood to be £45m plus £5m in add-ons. Everton want a fee in excess of £50m for the England Under 21 winger.
An improved offer for Fofana is also expected after Leicester rejected two Chelsea bids of £60m and £65m for the centre back.
Leicester’s initial ‘not for sale’ stance has softened, though they still want a world-record fee for a defender, surpassing the £80m Manchester United paid for Harry Maguire in 2019. Fofana has agreed personal terms with Chelsea, and was left out of Leicester’s 2-1 defeat by Southampton on Saturday as he was deemed to not be in ‘the right frame of mind’ to play.
Chelsea have made six summer signings worth a combined outlay of £190m, but recouped some money via Werner’s £25m sale and around £ 11m in loan fees for Lukaku and Malang Sarr.
Another £15m is on the way from West Ham for Emerson Palmieri and Hakim Ziyech is being targeted by his former club Ajax as a replacement for Brazilian winger Antony, who is wanted by Manchester United. l
THOMAS TUCHEL has been charged with improper conduct by the FA for his comments about referee Anthony Taylor.
Tuchel hit out at Taylor following Chelsea’s 2-2 draw with Tottenham nine days ago and agreed with the suggestion from some Blues supporters that ‘maybe it would be better’ if he did not take charge of Chelsea matches again.
Tuchel also said it was not just the club’s fans who think Taylor has made bad decisions against them and that his players become worried when he is in control.
Tuchel insisted last week: ‘I want to make it very clear I did not attack his integrity.’
But the FA have charged Tuchel and given him until Thursday to respond. It comes after he was also handed a temporarily suspended one-match touchline ban and a £35,000 fine by an independent commission for his post-match bust-up with Spurs boss Antonio Conte. Tuchel has the option to appeal against that punishment.