Chelsea might well be prepared to offer a part-trade in their pursuit of Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang – with Barcelona open to selling the former Arsenal skipper.
The Catalan giants were thought to be asking for £30million for the former Gabon star, despite landing him on a free as recently as February – having agreed a three-and-a-half year contract at the time.
However, the arrival of Robert Lewandowski from Bayern Munich has changed the club’s position, with Chelsea on the lookout for a new forward of their own following the departures of both Romelu Lukaku and Timo Werner.
READ MORE: Man Utd’s Harry Maguire targeted by Chelsea in swap deal with Christian Pulisic
The Athletic have now reported that Chelsea have offered both Marcos Alonso and a lump sum of £15m in a proposal for 33-year-old Aubameyang.
The report adds Barcelona are yet to respond to the offer, with Xavi wanting to keep the forward at the club despite a potential easing on their financial constraints.
It is said Thomas Tuchel is keen to reunite with Aubameyang following their time together at Borussia Dortmund, in which he scored 79 goals from 95 fixtures under his guidance.
Will Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang score 15 goals in the Premier League this season? Give us your thoughts in the comments section below.
(Image: Getty Images)
Alonso, 31, has been at the club since his 2016 move from Fiorentina, having previously had spells at Bolton and Sunderland.
The Spain international would also be crossing the Spanish divide having been on the books at Real Madrid between 1999 and 2010 and playing for their first-team once.
Tuchel has opted to keep his cards close to his chest amid reported interest in Aubameyang, but did go into detail over the previous relationship.
(Image: Getty Images)
He said this month: “I think that he [Aubameyang] was a very important player for me, we had a very close relationship. When we meet it is still always very nice.
“I can only say the best things about Auba as a player and person.”
Aubameyang scored 92 times in 163 appearances across all competitions during his time at Arsenal, but left in unfriendly circumstances after Mikel Arteta stripped him of the armband.
READ NEXT: