Transfer Centre

Chelsea's Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang 'has doubts about MLS move'

By Ben Knapton, Senior Reporter | 07 February 2023

Chelsea striker Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang reportedly still sees himself as a top-level European player and has doubts about a move to MLS champions Los Angeles FC.

Los Angeles FC must reportedly work to convince Chelsea striker Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang to move to MLS.

The 33-year-old's time at Stamford Bridge has been a miserable affair so far, and his season reached a low ebb when he was left out of the Blues' Champions League squad for the second half of the season.

Aubameyang returned to the Premier League in order to work with Thomas Tuchel again, but his former Borussia Dortmund manager was sacked just a couple of weeks after his signing.

Since then, Aubameyang has found himself down the pecking order under Graham Potter, starting all six Champions League group-stage matches but just four Premier League games.

Barcelona would have reportedly welcomed the Gabon international back to Camp Nou with open arms in January, but the window closed with Aubameyang still on the books at Chelsea.

Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang celebrates scoring for Chelsea on October 11, 2022 © Reuters

The ex-Arsenal man seemingly does not have a future at Stamford Bridge, though - having scored just three goals in 18 games this term - and he is only under contract until 2024.

With Christopher Nkunku arriving in the summer to reinforce an attack also boasting Kai Havertz, David Datro Fofana and Mykhaylo Mudryk, Aubameyang - who is also currently competing with Atletico Madrid loanee Joao Felix for starts - will be expected to depart in the coming months.

MLS clubs are able to sign players until April 24, and reigning champions Los Angeles FC are believed to be working on a deal to bring Aubameyang to the United States.

However, the Evening Standard claims that the ex-Arsenal man has reservations over an MLS switch, as he still believes that he has a lot to offer at the top level of European football.

As a result, LAFC - who have identified Aubameyang as an ideal replacement for the recently-retired Gareth Bale - will need to pull out all the stops to convince the striker to join.

Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang in Chelsea training on September 13, 2022 © Reuters

As well as Barcelona, AC Milan - another of the striker's former clubs - are said to have enquired over a move for Aubameyang, while Atletico are also keeping an eye on developments.

Aubameyang lost his golden touch during his final months at Arsenal before being stripped of the captaincy, but he impressed at Barcelona with 13 goals in 24 games.

The Gabon striker's prolific form in Spain has not translated into goals in England, though, and Potter even opted to select Hakim Ziyech - whose deadline day loan to Paris Saint-Germain collapsed at the last minute - ahead of him in his Champions League group.

Aubameyang subsequently travelled to Milan and was not involved in Friday's 0-0 draw with Fulham at Stamford Bridge, which has left Chelsea in ninth place in the Premier League table.

The Blues will meet Aubameyang's former club Dortmund in the last 16 of the Champions League, travelling to Germany for the first leg of their tie on February 15.