Chelsea are set to be one of the busiest Premier League clubs on this transfer deadline day. It's been a manic summer period for the Blues under new ownership and with hours left of the window, the busy feeling looks set to continue at Stamford Bridge.
So far this summer, Chelsea have brought in six new players in the form of Raheem Sterling, Kalidou Koulibaly, Carney Chukwuemeka, Gabriel Slonina, Marc Cucurella and Wesley Fofana. If Todd Boehly, the club's interim sporting director and co-owner, has it his way, there will be at least another two arriving before tonight's deadline.
The Blues are on the verge of signing Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang from Barcelona, football.london understands. Chelsea have been locked in talks with the Catalan club for weeks now and a breakthrough finally looks to have happened.
READ MORE: Tottenham accelerate dramatic Hakim Ziyech transfer swoop amid talks as Chelsea set asking price
Chelsea are set to pay around £6.5million for Aubameyang, with left-back Marcos Alonso going in the opposite direction. It's a deal that works well for all parties. Barca have been interested in Alonso for months now, with the Spaniard desperate to return to his homeland.
Thomas Tuchel has been determined to bring Aubameyang to the club to try and solve Chelsea's goalscoring woes. The 33-year-old is understood to be keen on reuniting with his former Borussia Dortmund manager in what will be a swift return to the Premier League. As reported by football.london last week, Chelsea have offered Aubameyang a two-year contract with the option of an additional 12 months. The former Arsenal captain will fly to London in the next few hours to complete the move.
Meanwhile, Chelsea submitted a £43m bid to Ajax for midfielder Edson Alvarez yesterday (Wednesday) evening. The Mexican midfielder has made it clear to the Amsterdam-based club that he wants to move to England and reports suggest he has not turned up to training today in protest.
Tuchel has been left short in midfield due to injuries in recent weeks and Boehly, as he has done all summer-long, is prepared to back the head coach. Alvarez is a defensive midfielder – something Chelsea supporters have been crying out for in recent times.
Elsewhere, rumours over long-term Blues target Rafael Leao began to circulate again yesterday. Chelsea have been watching the AC Milan forward for some time now, but the Italian club would demand way north of £100m should he move before tonight's deadline.
As it stands, it looks unlikely Chelsea will move for Leao before the deadline. It could be one, however, the club revisit next summer or even January.
As far as outgoings are concerned, Chelsea winger Hakim Ziyech could still leave the club. The Moroccan wants to move away from Stamford Bridge and Tottenham are the latest club to show an interest in his services. A move back to Ajax is one to keep an eye on, as well.
Dujon Sterling is having a medical at Stoke City ahead of a season-long loan move, football.london understands. The young Chelsea defender, who picked up an injury in the pre-season friendly against Boreham Wood last month, was also a target for QPR up until recently.
There's interest from abroad for Michy Batshuayi, who Chelsea would prefer to sell. With 12 months remaining on his contract, the Blues hope to get the Belgian off their books, but another loan move could be on the cards.
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