September 01, (THEWILL) – Chelsea are convinced that Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang will come to Stamford Bridge from Barcelona before the transfer deadline.
The ex-Gabon striker has been the subject of discussions for several weeks, and Chelsea has long been confident in their ability to close a deal. However, there is now a race against time to reach a deal with Barcelona before the deadline on Thursday night.
As THEWILL previously reported, talks are now focused on a swap deal involving left-back Marcos Alonso, who has been in a personal terms agreement with Barcelona for months. Discussions had previously been focused on a straight-cash deal for Aubameyang. Both parties now think a deal is about to be finalised, and a price of £10 million plus Alonso is currently on the table for Aubameyang.
Barcelona had hoped for a higher amount, but as part of their ongoing efforts to address their financial woes, they are increasingly eager to get the striker’s salary off the books. As a result, they are now expected to accept Chelsea’s offer, especially since they are also very eager to sign Alonso.
The Blues are intensifying their attempts to strengthen in other positions before the window ends and Wilfried Zaha of Crystal Palace is still a subject of great interest at Stamford Bridge.
About the Author
Jude Obafemi is a versatile senior Correspondent at THEWILL Newspapers, excelling in sourcing, researching, and delivering sports news stories for both print and digital publications.
