Chelsea Transfer News: Latest Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, Cesc Fabregas Rumours

Borussia Dortmund are ready to cash in on star striker Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang next summer, with Chelsea set to join Manchester City in the race for the player.

That’s according to Darren Lewis of the Daily Mirror, who stated that despite holding on to the player in the previous window amid interest from Premier League clubs, the Bundesliga giants are ready to admit defeat at the end of the campaign and sell the £65 million-rated sharpshooter.

Chelsea and City are named as teams keen on landing the striker, while Real Madrid and Paris Saint-Germain have also been linked. Aubameyang would reportedly prefer to move to Madrid should the opportunity arise, although their pursuit could be hampered by a potential transfer ban.

Should Dortmund look to cash in, whichever club does grab Aubameyang would be securing one of the most exciting attacking players in the game. Here’s a look at what he can offer:

Aside from goals—Aubameyang scored an impressive 25 times in the Bundesliga last term—the Gabon international provides a scintillating outlet up top.

The Dortmund man has become a lot savvier with his movement between defenders in recent years, and when he’s played through, his dynamism takes him away from opponents. What has also improved massively in his game is the decision-making when faced with goalscoring chances.

During his early days with BVB, Aubameyang would often snatch at opportunities. Now, as we can see via the UEFA Champions League Twitter feed, he’s scoring goals at the highest level:

Chelsea only have Diego Costa and Michy Batshuayi to call upon up top, so you sense that manager Antonio Conte would be keen to bring in another centre-forward. Indeed, he’s been limited to one-striker systems for much of the campaign because of the lack of depth at the position.

Aubameyang would refresh the attacking play at Stamford Bridge, although given the attributes he possesses, the Blues would face plenty of competition to get him on board.

Juventus Make Leonardo Bonucci, Cesc Fabregas Demand

Shaun Botterill/Getty Images

According to Alvise Cagnazzo of the Sun, Chelsea will be able to sign Leonardo Bonucci from Juventus in the summer, provided they stump up £50 million and Cesc Fabregas.

It’s suggested in the report that a midseason sale is not ideal for the Italian champions, although they are willing to do a deal at the end of the campaign should the Blues part with a record-equaling fee for a defender in addition to their Spain playmaker.

Bonucci has grown into one of the world’s best defenders with the Turin club and would immediately upgrade Chelsea’s options in this segment of the field. Here is what he can bring to a defensive structure:

According to the piece, Conte doesn’t want to lose Fabregas despite the Spaniard's lack of involvement in the first team this term, but Juve boss Massimiliano Allegri is said to be a big fan of the former Barcelona man. "While, at 29, age is not on his side, Allegri believes he can still get another five years out of him," Cagnazzo suggested.

Despite talk of potentially stratospheric offers for the defender, Bleacher Report’s Gianni Verschueren doesn’t think Bonucci would want to go anywhere:

The Italian would be an exceptional acquisition if Chelsea could somehow prise him away from Juventus. At 29, Bonucci still has many years left in him at the top level, and his commanding presence, astute distribution and burgeoning leadership traits would make him perfect for the Premier League club.

However, Juventus are equipped to challenge for glory both domestically and in the Champions League. If Chelsea aren’t in a similar sort of position to do so at the end of the campaign, a switch to Stamford Bridge may prove to be a difficult sell.