Chelsea’s dynamic forward, Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, seems to have found his summer delight as reports suggest he is eager to link up with Marseille for the upcoming season.
Last year, the Gabonese talent made a highly anticipated comeback to the Premier League, donning the Chelsea jersey with high hopes of becoming a pivotal player in Thomas Tuchel’s squad. Unfortunately, things didn’t pan out as expected for Aubameyang, especially after his former mentor from Borussia Dortmund was given the boot just a week after his arrival. This led to a rather frustrating campaign for the striker, as he managed to contribute a meager three goals and a solitary assist from a total of 21 appearances.
While Aubameyang featured prominently during the initial half of the season, it has been an open secret that he doesn’t hold a promising future at Stamford Bridge. Consequently, his name has been associated with numerous other clubs, with interests even sprouting from the Middle East. In particular, clubs from the Saudi Pro League have been aggressively pursuing talents to bolster their squads.
While a reunion with Barcelona was initially contemplated, it now appears that a return to the French Ligue 1 is the likeliest scenario for the 34-year-old goal scorer. According to transfer expert Fabrizio Romano’s tweet, Aubameyang has already reached an agreement with Marseille and is on the verge of making a switch to the iconic Stade Velodrome.
The potential deal would see Aubameyang pen a three-year contract with the French giants, who finished in an impressive third position in Ligue 1 during the 2022-23 season. Notably, Marseille’s performance had been commendable, albeit their goal tally in the top flight was somewhat lacking, with only one player, namely Alexis Sanchez, managing to reach double figures in goals.
The club’s new head coach, Marcelino Garcia Toral, appears to have made it a priority to bolster the team’s attacking options. Nonetheless, Marseille’s negotiations with Chelsea have yet to bear fruit as they strive to find common ground on the transfer fee. Journalist Marc Mechenoua reported that Todd Boehly and Clearlake Capital, representing Chelsea, are currently holding their ground, demanding a sum of around €6 million (£5.15 million) for Aubameyang.
Despite the apparent complexity, Romano is optimistic that the talks will progress smoothly. Chelsea, on the other hand, are keen to offload Aubameyang as quickly as possible to trim their wage bill. Additionally, with Mauricio Pochettino’s first-team squad heading to the United States, the West Londoners are also eager to part ways with other unwanted players like Hakim Ziyech and Romelu Lukaku.
As the negotiations unfold, all eyes are on Aubameyang’s impending move to Marseille, where he could potentially reignite his form and be a vital asset to the club’s attacking aspirations. The fans eagerly await official confirmation and the prospect of witnessing the talented forward grace the Ligue 1 stage once again.