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Evening Standard
Evening Standard
Sport
Nizaar Kinsella

Hakim Ziyech pushing for Chelsea exit as Thomas Tuchel considers Pierre Emerick Aubameyang transfer swoop

Hakim Ziyech remains frustrated at Chelsea and is exploring an exit from Stamford Bridge - with the Blues continuing to weigh up a move for Pierre Emerick Aubameyang.

Chelsea have loaned club-record £97.5million signing Romelu Lukaku back to Inter and recently announced a £20m deal for Timo Werner to return to RB Leipzig as Thomas Tuchel reshapes his attack.

Tuchel is not short of options in attack, with Raheem Sterling joining from Manchester City and Armando Broja seen as a first-team striker following his loan at Southampton last season.

Another departure would create space for a new attacker in the squad.

Aubameyang’s representatives are meeting with Barcelona amid interest from Chelsea.

The former Arsenal captain was offered to the club last week alongside both Frenkie De Jong and Memphis Depay, who is now in advanced talks with Juventus.

If Chelsea are not able to sign Aubameyang, they could look for alternative targets given that several forwards are unhappy under Tuchel.

Ziyech has been keen to join AC Milan all summer and his friend and former team-mate Lukaku has recommended him to the Italian champions.

However, the Moroccan has grown frustrated at the slow speed of their approach to sign him on loan with an option to buy and is increasingly instructing his lawyer to find alternative options.

Ziyech is keen to leave Chelsea after he was an unused substitute in their 1-0 win at Everton at the weekend.

Tuchel is aware of his dissatisfaction but is open to keeping the 29-year-old for another season.

Meanwhile, Callum Hudson-Odoi was left out of the squad completely at Goodison Park and does not feel part of Tuchel’s plans.

The 21-year-old had been hoping to make it at Chelsea this season but is now fielding offers, with Dortmund, Leicester City and Southampton all interested in signing him on loan.

Hudson-Odoi could also leave on a permanent deal, creating possible further space for new signings at Stamford Bridge.

Chelsea’s primary transfer focus is Leicester City centre-back Wesley Fofana but reports in France have emerged suggesting Paris Saint-Germain could ask him to wait for a year to move back to his native country.

Inter’s Denzel Dumfries and Southampton’s Kyle Walker-Peters are also targets to strengthen the right side of Chelsea’s defence.

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