Chelsea wanted to offload Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang in the January transfer window but could not do so due to FIFA regulations, according to Fabrizio Romano.
The 33-year-old has caught a lot of attention recently after being removed from Chelsea’s Champions League squad in favour of three January signings.
Blues manager Graham Potter insisted that Aubameyang is still “fighting for his spot” for the remainder of the season, but it is pretty clear that the striker is no longer an indispensable member of the squad.
Kai Havertz is currently the first-choice centre forward at Chelsea, while David Datro Fofana, while being linked with a potential loan exit to Turkey, could still stay and play a backup role until the end of the season.
According to Romano, Chelsea would have likely made Aubameyang available in the January transfer window if it was not for FIFA regulations.
“In the summer, Aubemayang will leave Chelsea” the Italian journalist explained on his YouTube channel.
“It was already the plan in January, but it was not possible because FIFA rules [do not allow] Aubameyang to play for any other club after Barcelona and Chelsea.”
Prior to joining Chelsea, Aubameyang made a cameo as a substitute against Rayo Vallecano this season.
It was only eight minutes, but he still made an appearance in an official match for Barcelona.
Article 5 of FIFA regulations on the status and transfer of players states players can register for a maximum of three clubs in a season but will only be eligible to play in official matches for two of them.
Aubameyang is not the only player Chelsea reportedly plan to offload at the end of the season, however.
Hakim Ziyech, whose proposed loan to PSG collapsed at the 11th hour, is also expected to leave.
Speaking about Ziyech, Romano adds: “In the summer, the priority will be to find another solution as Ziyech wants to be a regular starter in the future.”
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