has initially agreed to join from , according to reports in Germany.
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Chelsea are stepping up their efforts to sign a new striker following ’s departure earlier this summer and a subdued start to the new Premier League season.
Barcelona, meanwhile, are desperate to trim their wage bill and have been unable to register new €55 million (£46.4m) summer signing Jules Kounde due to their current financial difficulties.
Barca had hoped to offload Frenkie de Jong but it now appears Aubameyang is closer to an exit, despite only joining in February.
Last month, reports claimed that and was not interested in leaving Camp Nou this summer despite Chelsea’s approach.
But according to , a deal between Chelsea and Barcelona is now close as Aubameyang has now had a change of heart and is willing to move to Stamford Bridge.
The report claims that ‘all parties are optimistic’ of the move being completed, while Thomas Tuchel has been the driving force behind Chelsea’s push to sign Aubameyang.
Tuchel still has a positive relationship with Aubameyang following their time together at Borussia Dortmund.
Chelsea, meanwhile, attempted to sign Aubameyang during Frank Lampard’s reign in January 2020 but were put off by the 33-year-old’s wage demands.
Chelsea are now expected to pay around €20m (£25.3m) to sign Aubameyang from Barcelona this summer.
Speaking last week, Barcelona head coach Xavi suggested that Barcelona would be open to selling Aubameyang to enable Kounde to be registered.
‘If there is an offer for any of them, we’ll see how the squad turns out to be. Now the priority is to register Kounde,’ said Xavi.
‘Kounde is training really well. He’s great with the ball. I think we signed a
very good player. Now we need to sell some players to register him.’
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