According to a report from Express, it was mentioned that Chelsea have a few options to propose a swap deal with Atletico Madrid in order to sign Joao Felix in the summer permanently. It was also stated that Pierre-Emerick Aubmeyang could be traded to the Spanish outfit as they were linked to the Gabonese striker in the last transfer window.
Aubameyang’s Struggling Campaign With Chelsea So Far This Season
Aubameyang has struggled to be prolific at Chelsea during this campaign and has failed to establish himself as a regular starter in Graham Potter’s first XI. The veteran forward has registered only three goals and two assists over 17 appearances for the Blues this season across all fronts.
The Gabon talent has seen most of his appearances come as a substitute which could be why he is only averaging 0.9 shots, 0.3 key passes and 0.3 dribbles per game in the Premier League. He has struggled to be accurate with his ball distribution after making 72.3% of his attempted passes in top-flight football (stats via whoscored).
Aubameyang’s contract at Stamford Bridge lasts until the summer of 2024, however, he has fallen out of favour under Graham Potter; so the West London club could certainly swap him with Felix in the summer transfer window.
Should Chelsea Boss Graham Potter Propose This Deal To Atletico Madrid?
Aubameyang is an experienced forward who can still be a decent finisher in front of the opposition goal when he is playing regularly and with confidence on the pitch. He can also create some decent openings for others around him in and around the opponent’s penalty box. However, he has lost a lot of pace from his game and is currently seeing a dip in form.
Still, Aubamayang remains a versatile forward as he can operate anywhere across the frontline. Plus, he had a decent goal-scoring record during his last spell at the Nou Camp where he scored 13 goals and grabbed one assist in 24 matches for Barcelona across all competitions. So Diego Simeone could make use of his services if he’s given enough chances in the final third.
Even at the age of 33, we can expect Aubameyang to bring some depth to Simeone’s attack as he would give him more options on the attacking end of the pitch. However, he only has a few years left to offer at a high level and would soon need to be replaced with a decent signing.
With all things considered, Potter should only sell Aubameyang if he is planning to make use of Felix as a squad player at Stamford Bridge. The Portuguese striker would only sign permanently if he’s offered a regular starting spot, so Potter could first make an assessment of Felix’s ability to be productive in the final third before proposing an offer to Atletico Madrid.
