Aubameyang is not a striker Chelsea really want - here's who are

Karan Tejwani

• 19 Aug 2022 08:45 BST
• 3 min read

Chelsea are looking to bolster their attacking line and have lined up two options to help them in that regard – one for the short-term, and one focusing on the years to come.

Thomas Tuchel is keen to bring over Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang from Barcelona this summer in a deal that could cost them around €25 million to complete in the remaining weeks of the window.

The Blues let go of Romelu Lukaku and Timo Werner, and although they signed Raheem Sterling, they still wish to have another player join them to improve their attacking line for this campaign.

Aubameyang is well-admired at Chelsea, largely due to his relationship with Thomas Tuchel, which was great at Borussia Dortmund, and they’d like to reunite at Stamford Bridge.

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Chelsea have long-term alternatives

In addition to Aubameyang, Chelsea have a long-term plan as they see the Gabonese as a stop-gap option to get them through the 2022-23 campaign with a competitive side.

According to the Daily Telegraph, Chelsea have identified long-term options, including RB Leipzig’s Christopher Nkunku, Milan’s Rafael Leao and are looking at Sasa Kalajdzic, who’s contract runs out at the end of this season.

Nkunku signed a contract extension at the end of last season having been named the Bundesliga’s Player of the Season, but it’s widely believed he’ll make a step up in the next summer.

Leao was linked with moves to Manchester City this year, but the high price set on him has detracted suitors – there could well be more suitors if he keeps up his form in this campaign.

Kalajdzic, meanwhile, is already a target of Manchester United and Bayern Munich having impressed with lowly Stuttgart, and if he doesn’t move this summer, it seems highly likely he’ll go in the next.

Chelsea have started the season with Kai Havertz often leading the line, but want a more consistent goalscorer to lead the charge, and the trio above have proven they can do just that.

What’s certain is that Chelsea are prepared to spend big next summer on a forward, indicating Todd Boehly’s ambitions, having already been Europe’s biggest spenders on transfers this season.