Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang is close to leaving Chelsea for MLS side Los Angeles FC on loan, according to a report.

Le10Sport report that Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang is very close to leaving Chelsea for MLS side Los Angeles FC on loan, with only a few details to settle between the two sides.

A January transfer for Aubameyang was complicated by the fact he’d already represented two clubs during the 2022/23 season – Barcelona and Chelsea.

FIFA rules prevent players from playing for three clubs during the same campaign.

But that doesn’t apply to a move to the MLS, given they operate on a calendar-year basis.

Players may be eligible to play for a third club during one season if they move between two clubs belonging to associations with overlapping seasons – as in this case.

There are plenty of rumours flying around about Aubameyang at the moment, with Italian sources also suggesting a summer return to AC Milan could also be possible.

The current transfer speculation is largely driven by Chelsea’s decision to withdraw him from their Champions League squad.

In order to add three of their new signings to their squad, they had to leave one of their existing players out, and Aubameyang was the unlucky player chosen for that purpose.

The Telegraph report that Aubameyang’s camp are now convinced Chelsea want to get rid of him, and the player is “shocked and disappointed“. The MLS could offer an escape.