Al-Ettifaq are keen to sign Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang for Steven Gerrard this summer – although the Saudi Arabian side need Chelsea’s help. That is according to the Daily Mail. So, what is the latest on Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang at Chelsea? Let’s take a look…
What’s the story?
Well, Mauricio Pochettino is keen to offload the Gabon international as quickly as possible – according to the Telegraph . However – unfortunately for the Argentine – there have been few takers for Aubameyang, who only has 12 months remaining on his contract at Stamford Bridge.
Al-Ettifaq are interested, although the Daily Mail believe the Saudi Pro League side only want to offer the Chelsea No.9 a two-year contract, and would need the Blues to pay some of his £170,000-a-week salary. The same report, however, mentions that Gerrard’s new side are willing to offer Jordan Henderson a contract worth £210,000-a-week, so it certainly seems as if Al-Ettifaq are wealthy enough to pay Aubameyang’s salary in full.
Chelsea cannot pay some of Aubameyang’s wages for Al-Ettifaq In our view, Chelsea need to be firm and refuse to pay a portion of Aubameyang’s wages on behalf of Al-Ettifaq. If Gerrard’s side cannot afford him, there will surely be another club willing to take the 34-year-old before transfer deadline day, as he remains a huge name across Europe.
Other Saudi Arabian clubs can easily afford to pay his £170,000-a-week wages in full, as can some Major League Soccer sides in the United States.
Of course, if it comes down to the final few days of the transfer window and Chelsea still haven’t found a buyer, then perhaps it would be worth paying a fraction of his wage to help an exit materialise, rather than have his entire salary on the books for another 12 months. At this stage of the summer – however – Chelsea must stand firm.