Atletico eye Chelsea misfit Aubameyang

ATLETICO MADRID are among the Spanish clubs interested in Chelsea striker Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang with Joao Felix’s imminent move to west London set to threaten his game time.

Several clubs in La Liga are monitoring former Arsenal and Barcelona forward Aubameyang, who has not started for Chelsea since November with only three goals in 15 appearances since his £12million transfer last summer.

The 33-year- old will have even fewer opportunities to play once the Blues sign Atletico’s Felix, who travelled to London yesterday to finalise his loan move. Any deal for Atletico to sign Aubameyang would be separate from the clubs’ agreement for Felix.

Aubameyang joined Chelsea after a six-month spell at Barca in which he scored 13 goals in 18 starts. He is held in high regard in Spain but is the only recognised striker available to Chelsea boss Graham Potter, with Armando Broja out injured and Romelu Lukaku on loan at Inter Milan.

It is uncertain if the Blues would entertain offers for Aubameyang, who missed Sunday’s FA Cup loss at Manchester City with a back problem. He will have fitness tests today ahead of tomorrow’s Premier League match at Fulham.

In August at Barcelona, he was the subject of a violent robbery in which the intruders broke his jaw with an iron bar. His wife and two children were also present.

Chelsea have agreed a £9million loan fee for Felix, 23, and will pay his wages for the rest of the season. The deal does not include an option to buy him permanently.

Felix is unhappy at Atletico under manager Diego Simeone, but talks have taken place about extending his contract for a further 12 months to 2027.

Chelsea wanted reinforcements even before their forward line was hit by injuries. Broja is out for the season with Christian Pulisic and Raheem Sterling also sidelined.