Chelsea ‘closely monitoring’ Aubameyang contract situation as they eye shock transfer from Arsenal
Sponsored by
CHELSEA are reportedly keeping a close eye on Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang's contract situation as they consider a shock £50million transfer move for the Arsenal captain.
The Blues want to bolster their attacking options as Tammy Abraham could possibly be the only recognised striker left at Stamford Bridge at the beginning of next season.
Olivier Giroud is out of contract in the summer - although talks are ongoing about extending his deal by a year - and Michy Batshuayi's time could well be up.
So Frank Lampard may opt to dip into the transfer market.
And according to , Aubameyang is on his radar.
The Gabon international, 30, has proved he can cut it in the Premier League with 49 goals in 75 appearances since joining from Borussia Dortmund in 2018.
However, despite his value at the Emirates, Arsenal have still not tied him down to a new contract with his current deal expiring next year - although there are feelings within the club he will opt to stay.
CHELSEA NEWS LIVE: Follow for the latest Blues news
And the report adds that the Gunners have changed their transfer policy and do not want to let players go into the final season of their contracts and lose them for free.
This happened with midfielder Aaron Ramsey last summer as he joined Juventus for nothing.
It is thought Arsenal would demand around £50m for their £200,000-a-week captain, who was due to sit down for negotiations before the UK went into lockdown.
Auba finished as the joint-top scorer in the Premier League last season and has hopes of winning the gong this term.
His age could be a stumbling block for the Blues, though, while he would surely demand an increase on his wages.
Latest transfer news
Chelsea do have a policy of only giving one-year deals to players in their 30s and it is accepted he would not be a long-term solution.
However, the Blues have also been looking at £70m-rated Lyon ace Moussa Dembele and Timo Werner of RB Leipzig, whose £52m release clause expires in June.
The pair, aged 23 and 24 respectively, could be Stamford Bridge players for many years along with academy-graduate Abraham, 22.
