According to reports from The Sun, Chelsea have joined Arsenal, Barcelona and Liverpool in the race to sign Borussia Dortmund striker Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang.
Having amassed 25 goals across all competitions last season despite the Black-Yellows’ struggles in the Bundesliga, a number of Premier League sides were courting the Gabon international during the summer transfer window. He ended speculation over his future by signing a contract extension until 2020 in July, but England’s top clubs find themselves taking an interest once again following the 26-year-old’s incredible start to the season.
A strike against Hamburg last Friday night has brought Aubameyang’s campaign total to 23 goals in just 21 appearances, including 15 strikes in the Bundesliga to make him the leading goal scorer across Europe’s five major top flights. He’s also scored five goals in nine outings for Gabon since the turn of 2015.
Arsenal and Liverpool have already expressed an interest in the 6 foot 2 striker, whose power, speed and trickery seem well-geared towards English football, whilst European champions Barcelona are also known admirers. But according to the Sun, Chelsea have become the latest club to join the hunt to sign Aubameyang during the January transfer window.
Jose Mourinho insisted on Friday that he won’t look to significantly change his squad in January. But privately, the Blues boss wants to sign a new front-man that can provoke a stronger performance from first-choice striker Diego Costa. The Spaniard has scored just two Premier League goals this season, whilst Radamel Falcao and Loic Remy have found a solitary league strike between them.
Although Aubameyang will spend mid-January to early February at the African Cup of Nations, The Sun claim Chelsea are still prepared to table a £20million bid. With so many clubs interested and the former St. Etienne man enjoying the best scoring form in Europe, however, that is unlikely to be enough. Reports last week suggested Dortmund’s ‘pain threshold‘ stands at £42million – a far more realistic sum.