Chelsea are keen to ship out-of-favour striker Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang off to Los Angeles FC.
However, they are still waiting for the 33-year-old to decide on a potential move to Major League Soccer, according to Fabrizio Romano.
Aubameyang has found playing time hard to come by recently, with Chelsea manager Graham Potter preferring Kai Havertz and David Datro Fofana to the former Barcelona striker.
To add insult to injury, Aubameyang has also been taken off Chelsea’s UEFA squad list for the rest of their 2022/23 Champions League campaign amid the club’s January spending spree that saw several other players come in.
Aubameyang’s nightmare spell could come to an abrupt end with LAFC extending the Gabonese striker a way out. He is yet to greenlight the loan move, which is all but agreed between both clubs.
He has several other suitors looking to snap him up, with Atletico Madrid, AC Milan and former club Barca looking to sign him next summer.
However, a move to the MLS could see him get ample playing time until he is ready to decide his next move in the summer, with the Americans still able to sign players despite the closure of the European transfer market.
Meanwhile, one of the Blues’ marquee January acquisitions Joao Felix could be set for a permanent move to west London if all goes to plan.
Chelsea are yet to see their new star man properly in action, with the Portugal international dismissed in the 58th minute of his debut against Fulham, although he impressed before his red card.
The Blues are convinced about the 23-year-old’s ability and plan to make his loan move permanent next summer despite reports in Spain suggesting parent club Atletico Madrid would likely demand a staggering £124 million.
However, Felix has suggested he would be open to a permanent move to Chelsea, having told Diario AS that he feels comfortable at the club.
“I feel very good at Chelsea – I like the club,” he said. “There’s no option to buy in the contract, so if they want to keep me, they’ll have to find an agreement with Atletico. I’m getting to know the club. I like it – but we never know the future.”
The former Benfica man has served out his suspension and is in line to make his London derby debut when Potter’s side face West Ham United on Saturday afternoon.
