Chelsea have agreed a deal for Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang to join Marseille on a free transfer and are considering whether to attempt a reunion with Crystal Palace’s Marc Guéhi after losing Wesley Fofana to a serious knee injury.
Much of the focus for Chelsea has been on sales and they have decided not to demand a fee for Aubameyang, who will sign a three-year deal with Marseille. The former Arsenal striker has struggled since joining from Barcelona last summer and an exit was inevitable after Mauricio Pochettino left the 34-year-old out of the club’s pre-season tour of the USA.
Pochettino, who has allowed several senior players to leave, wants to strengthen in midfield and Chelsea are expected to make an improved offer for Moisés Caicedo after having a £70m bid rejected by Brighton. However they could be forced into the market for a central defender after Fofana underwent surgery on a ruptured anterior cruciate ligament and it is understood that they hold an interest in Guéhi, who left Chelsea for Palace two years ago.
Guéhi came through Chelsea’s academy and they have the right to match bids from other clubs. Arsenal and Tottenham have tracked the England centre-back but are yet to move for him. It is likely Palace would look to make a significant profit after signing him for £18m in 2021. The 23-year-old has impressed at Selhurst Park and has a good chance of being included in England’s squad at Euro 2024.
The question for Chelsea will be whether they react to the prospect of Fofana missing most of next season by spending a big chunk of money on a defender. They have sold Kalidou Koulibaly but Pochettino can still choose from Thiago Silva, Benoît Badiashile, Levi Colwill and Trevoh Chalobah.
However Silva turns 39 in September, Badiashile is recovering from a groin injury and Internazionale are interested in Chalobah. It is a fluid situation and Chelsea are weighing up whether they need more depth, though it has been stressed they are yet to make a serious move for Guéhi. Other names will come into contention and one consideration for Chelsea will be whether they need a tall centre-back, especially as they lack height in central midfield. They are not interested in Manchester United’s Harry Maguire.
Chelsea are also set to submit a bid for the Montpellier striker, Elye Wahi, who scored 19 goals in Ligue 1 last season. Atletico Madrid and Paris Saint Germain are both interested in Wahi too. Chelsea plan to loan the forward to Strasbourg if their move is successful. The Stamford Bridge club recently bought a majority stake in Strasbourg.
