Chelsea likely to sell out-of-favour striker for free in the summer

Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang could leave Chelsea for free in the summer

Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang appears set to leave Chelsea on a free transfer in the upcoming summer transfer window as the club scampers to to reduce their wage bill.

Additionally, according to the Telegraph (subscription required), (h/t Metro) Aubameyang is being courted by Barcelona, Atletico Madrid, and AC Milan. But none of those clubs are prepared to cover the striker’s transfer fee.

Aubameyang was also seen celebrating with Barcelona players and supporters after the Spanish club’s 2-1 La Liga victory against Real Madrid a few months ago. The 33-year-old striker had a hefty two-year deal earning over £160,000 per week when he transferred from Barcelona to Chelsea for £12 million last summer.

However, the Gabonese striker has fallen short of expectations on the field, scoring just once in 15 Premier League games.

He played in few games under former manager Graham Potter, who used Kai Havertz in the number 9 position. Lampard is open to using Aubameyang but he has so far failed to take his chances.

Chelsea are currently 12th in the table and suffered their sixth straight defeat in all competitions after losing to Arsenal 3-1, where the Gabonese striker made a cameo against his former club.

Chelsea don’t appear to be keeping the striker even though they are unlikely to receive a transfer bid for the 33-year-old. Although it will be a great loss to lose him for nothing given that we paid £12 million for him, desperate times call for desperate measures.

However, the acquisition was unpredictable given that we made the purchase on the deadline day in September, but who knows? Maybe under Thomas Tuchel, he might have thrived if the German coach hadn’t been dismissed.

More Chelsea News:

• Right-back Cesar Azpilicueta stated Chelsea need to start with off-field issues
• Chelsea manager Frank Lampard blasted for N’Golo Kante experiment by Darren Bent
• Frank Lampard confirms Chelsea setback with Reece James and Mason Mount out

On the plus side, we will now be able to balance our financial fair play and save enormous amounts of money on salaries. Given the season we are having, every single win matters whether it be on or off the field.