Chelsea and Liverpool in tug of war over £65million Borussia Dortmund ace Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang
The two Prem clubs have made contact with German club over a move
HOTSHOT Pierre Emerick Aubameyang is at the centre of a tug of war between Liverpool and Chelsea.
The two Premier League clubs have made contact with the Borussia Dortmund striker’s representatives over a proposed £65million move.
Liverpool are in pole position as their former Dortmund chief Jurgen Klopp has been pressing to be reunited with the 28-year-old since April.
Aubameyang has plundered 85 goals in 128 Bundesliga appearances for ‘Der BVB’.
But Anfield owners Fenway Sports Group are reluctant to meet the German club’s valuation or the player’s £180,000-a-week wage demand.
That keeps Chelsea in with a chance of snatching Aubameyang, who scored 40 goals last season, even though Blues boss Antonio Conte has been told the club will not buy a new striker until Diego Costa’s future has been resolved.
The Premier League champions want Costa sold or loaned out before splashing millions on another forward.
But they risk missing out on Gabon star Aubameyang, who failed to agree terms over a move to Paris Saint-Germain last month, as a result.
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Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang
- Pierre Emerick-Aubameyang is a Gabon international, but was born in Laval, France in 1989
- After 12 years playing in French youth football, Aubameyang joined Italian club AC Milan, where big things were expected
- But incredibly, now valued at more than £60million, the Rossoneri never gave him a chance. He was loaned out to four clubs before joining French outfit St Etienne for a fee believed to be less than £1m
- He was the top scorer in his first season in France, despite joining in December. He ended with 16 goals in Ligue 1
- The following season only Zlatan Ibrahimovic scored more goals than the Gabon striker. This earned him a move to Borussia Dortmund
- His finest season in the Bundesliga was the one just passed, 2016/17 where he finished with a majestic 42 goals in 51 games
- Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang is the son of former Gabonese international Pierre Aubameyang
A raid on Real Madrid for Spanish striker Alvaro Morata is looking increasingly unlikely.
But Chelsea should complete the £40m signing of Monaco midfielder Tiemoue Bakayako today, while they are also closing in on Real Madrid’s £30m right-back Danilo.
France international Bakayoko, 22, is set for a medical and wants to follow in Didier Drogba’s footsteps at Stamford Bridge.
He was born in Paris but also qualifies for the Ivory Coast and Blues legend Drogba is his hero.
He said: “The English club I liked very much was Chelsea. Drogba is an icon, a role model.”
Bakayoko will post his comments on Instagram today after using his account to bid Monaco fans farewell.
The former Rennes star showed footage of his time at the French club after three years there.
He also talked about former PSG star Ronaldinho being the player that he loved from his home city.
Danilo’s imminent arrival should also ease Conte’s mood after a frustrating summer although the Italian is still keen to land Juventus’ Brazilian Alex Sandro to replace Marcos Alonso as his starting option at left wing-back.
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