Reports suggest that Chelsea almost missed out on the opportunity to sign Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang this summer.
According to The Athletic, the Blues were prepared to pull out of the deal for the 33-year-old as negotiations with the player as well as Barcelona were stalling.
The club added Aubameyang as a deadline day signing to help try and solve their striking problems, with goals being hard to come by in the early matches this season.
In the final game before his signing, the away trip to Southampton which ended in defeat, the attack looked as toothless as ever, obviously indicating to the higher ups that another option was required up front.
It seems wise to turn to someone who has recognised Premier League goalscoring pedigree, and there are not many better options to fit that profile than the Gabon international.
Chelsea almost missed out on Aubameyang
However, The Athletic have claimed that things didn’t look good for the signing to come to fruition during the month of August, however the report goes on to say things turned around quickly based on both Chelsea’s and Aubameyang’s own situations.
The 33-year-old was subject of an armed robbery at his house just days before leaving the Nou Camp, with him suffering a fractured jaw in the process.
This came after being used as an unused substitute for Barcelona’s La Liga fixture against Real Valladolid, leaving him aware that he was surplus to requirements at the Catalan club.
Xavi’s side have added Robert Lewandowski to their ranks up front for the current campaign, obviously making it difficult for any competing attackers to break into the side.
Aubameyang could be set to make his debut for the Blues tonight in the Champions League, with him not featuring in the competition for a number of years now after spending time in the Europa League with Arsenal and Barcelona.
It will be interesting to see if he recreates his best football at Stamford Bridge, with him being described as ‘brilliant’ by Jamie Carragher.
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