Tuchel comments on Aubameyang during Arsenal troubles hints at Chelsea move
Robin Bairner
- 11 Aug 2022 10:29 BST
- 3 min read
Barcelona forward Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang has been strongly linked as a candidate to fill an additional offensive role at Chelsea.
The Blues might have added Raheem Sterling to their attacking options from Manchester City earlier this summer in one of the biggest completed transfers of the summer, but they have also seen their attacking options diminish.
Romelu Lukaku has been loaned back to Inter while the sale of Timo Werner to RB Leipzig has eaten away at Tuchel’s options further.
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Now Chelsea are expected to make a move late in the transfer market for a striker, and with Barcelona bursting with options, Aubameyang is a player who has been touted to move back to London, where he previously played with Arsenal.
The Gabon international was ultimately dumped by Gunners boss Mikel Arteta for repeated breaches of discipline, yet he has worked previously under Tuchel at Borussia Dortmund and clearly made a positive impression.
Tuchel has no worries about Aubameyang
Indeed, during Aubameyang’s turbulent last few days together at the Emirates, the German spoke up in favour of his character.
“I think he was a very important player for me and we have a very close relationship at this point. When we meet it’s still always very, very nice,” Tuchel told the media.
“I can only say the best things about Auba as a player and as a person.
“I feel sorry for him that he’s in trouble. This is not where he should be with his kind of quality and the positive character that he has – and I still believe in that.
“I just have my picture and my relationship with Auba and this is not affected by that.”
Tuchel’s judgement on Aubameyang is, therefore, not going to be clouded by the dramatic manner in which he departed Arsenal for Barcelona in January, and suggests that this is a deal that could very much be on.
