Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang reportedly prefers the idea of moving to Chelsea instead of Manchester United as he wants to play Champions League football.

Barcelona's Gabonese midfielder Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang gestures before the start of the friendly football match between FC Barcelona and Manchester City, at the Camp Nou stadium in Barcelona on August 24, 2022. (Photo by Josep LAGO / AFP)
Barcelona’s Gabonese midfielder Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang gestures before the start of the friendly football match between FC Barcelona and Manchester City, at the Camp Nou stadium in Barcelona on August 24, 2022. (Photo by Josep LAGO / AFP)

Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang wants to stay in Barcelona, although the recent robbery he suffered that saw him beaten by gunmen wielding iron bars might have changed his mind on that.

Regardless of what Aubameyang wants, there were reports that Barcelona put Aubameyang on a list of 25 players to be sold this summer not long after he arrived.

Chelsea have been the main team linked with a move for the former Arsenal captain but in recent weeks Manchester United entered the equation.

It is now expected that Aubameyang will indeed leave Barcelona before the window closes this week and a return to the Premier League seems his only destination.

In addition to being offered Champions League football by Chelsea, he would also be able to return to London, a city he knows and loves.

Barcelona are, of course, a financial basket-case of a club, so the chance to get a hefty chunk of change for an ageing player they got for free no doubt turns them on.

Chelsea have already had one bid around €15m turned down with Barcelona wanting €20m+.

As does the thought of not having to pay Auba his proper wage after he took a paycut to facilitate the move.