Chelsea forward emerging as a serious option for Barcelona this summer – report

Earlier this month, it was reported that Barcelona have removed Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang from their priority list ahead of the summer transfer window.

But Mundo Deportivo, in its latest report, has refuted the claims. The Spanish publication suggests Aubameyang has once again earned the favour of Barcelona’s technical staff, with the possibility of signing him in the coming summer gaining momentum by the day.

Barcelona view Aubameyang as a good investment, as he would be able to serve as an alternative for Robert Lewandowski. He also comes with a lot of pedigree at the highest level of football and did well during his short spell at Camp Nou.

Aubameyang moved to Chelsea last summer, against his wishes. He wanted to remain at the club, but Barça’s poor economic situation made it difficult for them to retain his services. It ultimately led to the striker joining Chelsea for a fee of €12 million.

However, the Gabonese forward has endured a difficult season at Chelsea. He has fallen out of favour at Stamford Bridge and was excluded from the UEFA Champions League squad earlier in the year.

Although another Chelsea star Joao Felix is staring at the prospect of a return to Atletico Madrid, everything indicates the Blues will offload Aubameyang in the coming summer. The player, for his part, also wants to leave and is prioritising a return to Barça.

However, the major factor for Barcelona is whether or not Aubameyang would be available as a free agent. Given that the forward’s contract expires in 2024, Barça are relying on Chelsea to offer the player a letter of freedom at the end of the season, the report suggests.

Apart from Aubameyang, the Catalans have been linked with various other attackers including Brazilian whizkid Vitor Roque and Borussia Monchengladbach’s Marcus Thuram. So it promises to be an exciting summer ahead for Barcelona fans.