Intensive talks will continue today over Chelsea’s proposed move for Barcelona striker Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang before the transfer window closes.
Negotiations have been taking place for a number of weeks but there remains no agreement between Chelsea and Barcelona. As it stands, even an agreement with Aubameyang on personal terms remains some way off. However, a compromise is expected to be found on the player side if the club-to-club part is solved.
Until now the La Liga team have been holding out for a fee that is above what their Premier League counterparts are prepared to pay. The length of his potential contract is another sticking point that would need resolving if Aubameyang is to move.
A new consideration for Chelsea is that he suffered a broken jaw during a struggle with intruders when his home in the Catalan city was burgled on Sunday. The injury was sustained as Aubameyang tried to protect his family and house from a violent robbery. It is anticipated to keep him out of action for a number of weeks.
The length of lay-off is likely to be determined by whether or not he undergoes surgery. That option is thought to offer a quicker return than waiting for the injury to heal naturally.
READ ALSO: Man City Close To Agreement To Sign Akanji From Borussia Dortmund
It is unclear to what extent the problem will affect Chelsea’s thinking. There is no indication it will cause the switch to collapse, yet it does add another issue into a complicated situation. Depending on the amount of time Aubameyang spends on the sidelines, it could mean he is only available for a small number of games before the World Cup.
The idea of a loan is now also thought to have entered the conversation between the parties as Thursday’s 23.00 BST deadline approaches.
