CHELSEA are moving closer to landing Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang in a bid to beef up their forward options.
An improved £25million offer could be enough to see the former Arsenal captain, 33, return to England from Barcelona.
Blues boss Thomas Tuchel coached Auba at Dortmund and is looking for a designated striker to lead his front line.
Romelu Lukaku, 29, is currently on loan at Inter Milan and 20-year-old rookie Armando Broja injured.
Sunday’s 3-0 defeat at Leeds has crystallised the need for more bodies to help Chelsea compete for the title this season after they dropped five points in the last two matches.
Tuchel believes he can get the best out of the wayward star who had his contract cancelled by Arsenal in January.
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The new offer includes around £3.5m in add-ons.
Barcelona boss Xavi is having to be convinced to let Aubameyang go but seems to be coming round slowly to the idea.
And the player is more accepting of a move back to the Prem as he will not be first-choice striker.
Robert Lewandowski arrived for £42.5m at the Nou Camp from Bayern Munich, and recently scored twice against Real Sociedad.
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But any deal the other way for Chelsea left-back Marcos Alonso would have to be separate.
Alonso, 31, wants out and Tuchel has already signed Marc Cucurella to cover his role.
It leaves England international Ben Chilwell fighting for the left-wingback spot with Cucurella.
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
