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      Aubameyang takes Chelsea’s cursed No 9 but can he finally beat jinx that defeated Lukaku, Morata, Higuain and Torres?

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      BRAVE Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang will take on the poisoned No9 shirt at Chelsea, following his move to the West London giants.The former Arsenal striker, 33, completed a last-gasp deadline day transfer to the Blues from Barcelona for £12million, with Marcos Alonso going the other way.
      Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang moved to the Chelsea on transfer deadline dayCredit: Getty
      Aubameyang has taken on the cursed No9 jersey at Stamford BridgeCredit: Getty

      Immediately, he showed off his new jersey for the cameras and number choice at his unveiling.
      But that No9 shirt has jinxed many a great striker before Auba’s arrival.
      £97.5million flop Romelu Lukaku was the most recent star to wear it. However, he was shipped off to Inter Milan on loan after failing on his Stamford Bridge return – and Thomas Tuchel admitted no one wanted to wear the number.
      Incidentally, through the years Aubameyang has worn the No14 at Arsenal, No17 at Borussia Dortmund and Barcelona, No7 at Saint-Etienne, and the No11 at Monaco and Lille.
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      For his country Gabon, who he boasts 30 goals in 72 games for, he does wear the No9 jersey, so he could be ready to break the mould.
      Below we run through the strikers who have fallen foul of Stamford Bridge’s doomed jersey…
      ROMELU LUKAKU, 2021-2022
      Heralded as the signing that would help the Blues fight Man City and Chelsea for the title, Lukaku arrived for a blockbuster £97.5million fee.
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      Things didn’t work out that way, though, with the giant Belgium striker struggling with his fitness.
      Boss Tuchel froze him out after he suffered a crisis in front of goal and couldn’t adapt to the German tactician’s style of play.
      He managed just 15 goals in 44 games, before he was sent on loan to Inter Milan this summer for the season.
      His future at the club is up in the air at the moment.
      Romelu Lukaku ended up falling foul of No9 curse and flopped at Stamford BridgeCredit: Getty
      In the Premier League Lukaku managed just eight goals
      CHRIS SUTTON, 1999-2000
      In 1999, Sutton moved to West London from Blackburn for a then mega £10million.
      He had made a name for himself at Norwich, then won the title with Blackburn so he had pedigree.
      However, he struggled with the burden of the price tag and style of play – scoring just one goal in 39 games.
      Sutton was sold the following summer to Celtic for £6m, where he found his form again.
      Chris Sutton was an expensive mistake by ChelseaCredit: News Group Newspapers Ltd
      MATEJA KEZMAN, 2004-2005
      It was the year Chelsea won their first Premier League title, but it wasn’t because of this Serbian forward.
      In truth, Kezman had some big boots to fill in Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink when he arrived from PSV in a £6m deal.
      But after he tore shreds out of defences in the Dutch league, he couldn’t repeat that feat on our shores.
      Four goals in 25 games later he was sold to Atletico Madrid.
      Mateja Kezman couldn’t replicate the form he showed at PSV for ChelseaCredit: PA:Press Association
      KHALID BOULAHROUZ, 2006-07
      Perhaps Chelsea were trying to break the curse at this point, or take the pressure off their strikers.
      But in 2006 they gave Dutch defender Boulahrouz the No9 shirt, following his £9m move from Hamburg.
      Nicknamed ‘The Cannibal’, he failed to dislodge John Terry and Ricardo Carvalho.
      Injuries didn’t help his cause, and he made just 20 appearances before he was loaned out to Sevilla.
      Khalid Boulahrouz, left, made just 20 appearances for the BluesCredit: Reuters
      STEVE SIDWELL, 2007-08
      The ex-Arsenal trainee was a strange signing by the Blues.
      After four years impressing at Reading, he was snapped up by Jose Mourinho on a free transfer.
      Michael Essien and Frank Lampard were the midfield pair the Special One would turn to, which meant Sidwell made just 25 appearances before he was sold to Aston Villa.
      The No9 shirt was free again for a new incumbent.
      Steve Sidwell failed to establish himself at Stamford Bridge after Jose Mourinho signed himCredit: News Group Newspapers Ltd
      FRANCO DI SANTO, 2008-09
      It was Argentine youth prospect Di Santo who had the shirt (and dreams) pinned on him when Sidwell departed.
      A £4m signing from Chilean side Audax Italiano, the centre forward just couldn’t find his striking boots.
      He made 16 appearances, mostly as a sub in fairness, but never looked like scoring.
      Di Santo was sold to Wigan, a season after a poor campaign with Blackburn on loan.
      Argie Franco Di Santo failed to score in 16 games for ChelseaCredit: PA:Empics Sport
      FERNANDO TORRES, 2011-15
      Chelsea fans will argue his goal against Barcelona in the Nou Camp to seal a spot in the final of the 2012 Champions League was worth his £50m transfer fee alone.
      But for some reason, the Spain legend could never really get going in a Chelsea shirt.
      And it wasn’t English football that was a struggle – because over four years at Liverpool he scored 81 goals in 142 games.
      However, 45 strikes in 172 games for the Blues was a poor return for ‘El Nino’.
      Fernando Torres couldn’t replicate the form he showed at Liverpool at Stamford BridgeCredit: Reuters
      RADAMEL FALCAO, 2015-16
      After a disastrous spell at Manchester United, Chelsea knew they were taking a gamble on Falcao.
      The Colombian striker arrived on loan with the idea of making the move permanent from Monaco in 2015.
      Struggles with his fitness and the pace of the game saw him restricted to just 12 games.
      Worse still, he only managed one goal.
      Radamel Falcao was a disaster during his loan at Chelsea – scoring just once in 12 gamesCredit: Getty Images – Getty
      ALVARO MORATA, 2017-18
      Another huge fee was shelled out for Spain striker Morata, who arrived in 2017 for £60m.
      A lot was expected of the ex-Real Madrid star, who managed 15 goals in his first season.
      Morata even tried to change his shirt number to 29, but things got even worse in his second campaign with the club when he scored just five Premier League goals.
      The striker returned to LaLiga with Atletico Madrid with his tail between his legs in 2019.
      The expectation on Alvaro Morata’s shoulders was too much for the Spaniard who floppedCredit: Getty – Contributor
      GONZALO HIGUAIN, 2019
      It was Maurizio Sarri’s dream signing – and a striker he knew how to get the best out of after managing the Argie at Napoli to great success.
      But the Higuain who scored 91 goals in 146 games in Naples three years prior was a shadow of his former self in England.
      Fears over his fitness and pace ended up to be true.
      And despite scoring a brace in his third game against Huddersfield, he couldn’t replicate his goalscoring form from his Serie A days.
      Six months, 19 games and five goals later, he returned to Juventus. Ironically, his boss was Sarri again.
      Gonzalo Higuain struggled for fitness during his time in West LondonCredit: Reuters More

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      Chelsea had £13m deadline day transfer for Russian Zakharyan BLOCKED by UK sanctions despite deal with Dynamo Moscow

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      CHELSEA were blocked from signing Russian star Arsen Zakharyan yesterday by British sanctions.The Blues had agreed a £12.6million deadline day deal with the midfielder’s club Dynamo Moscow after activating his release clause following days of negotiations.
      Russian Arsen Zakharyan saw a move to Chelsea collapse on deadline dayCredit: Getty
      The 19-year-old was then all set for a switch to Stamford Bridge to link up with Thomas Tuchel’s squad.
      However, Dynamo have now revealed that the move was blocked due to the sanctions the United Kingdom has placed on Russia amid the war in Ukraine.
      The main stumbling block was the need to transfer the funds to a club based in Russia.
      There was also the expected difficulty in obtaining a work permit for Zakharyan from the Home Office while Fifa’s rules on signing Russian players following the country’s invasion of Ukraine would also have provided a number of other complications.
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      A statement from Dynamo confirmed: “On August 25 we received an offer from Chelsea for Arsen Zakharyan. 
      “For several days, there have been intense negotiations between Dynamo and Chelsea, in which our club took a constructive position. 
      “However, it is not possible to transfer a player in this summer transfer window for a number of technical reasons beyond our control.”
      Agent Rafaela Pimenta also told Sport Express: “Today, it is impossible to close the transfer of Zakharyan in the summer transfer window.
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      “This transfer is not frozen until winter, but it is possible.
      “Now we are still working to ensure that Dinamo can get money from Chelsea.”
      Zakharyan made 34 appearances for Dynamo last term, scoring nine goals and producing nine assists, as he caught the eye of several big guns across the continent. More

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      Chelsea sell wonderkid Billy Gilmour to Brighton for £9m as midfielder agrees four-year contract at the Amex

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      BRIGHTON have completed the £9million signing of Chelsea midfielder Billy Gilmour.Gilmour, 21, has agreed a four-year deal at the Amex.
      Brighton are closing in on a move for Chelsea’s Billy GilmourCredit: Getty
      The Seagulls have been on the hunt for a midfielder following the departure of Yves Bissouma to Tottenham earlier this summer.
      Gilmour made a stunning start to his Chelsea career under Frank Lampard but fell out of favour under Thomas Tuchel and endured a difficult loan with Norwich City last season.
      The ace has only appeared 11 times in the Premier League for the West London club but continues to be a regular for his country.
      He was included in the Blues’ party for their pre-season tour to the USA but was then among a group of players that were allowed to leave and link-up with their development squad part way through.
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      The midfielder was initially left without a squad number at the start of the season.
      But he was named on the bench as No35 for Chelsea’s defeat at Southampton on Tuesday but remained unused.
      Head coach Graham Potter said, “Billy arrives with a fantastic pedigree, having played in the Premier League and Champions League as well as for Scotland at last year’s Euros.
      “He will complement our existing midfield options.
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      “That experience at quite a young age shows the strength of character he has and we’re really excited by his potential.
      “Now it’s about allowing him the time to get used to a new environment and settling in to our club.
      “We can’t wait to work with him.”
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      Any move for the Scotland international had to be permanent.
      That is because Brighton already have defender Levi Colwill on loan from Chelsea and are unable to borrow another player from the club. More

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      Chelsea confirm £10m transfer of Barcelona striker Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang with Marcos Alonso heading to Nou Camp

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      CHELSEA have confirmed the £10million signing of former Arsenal captain Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang from Barcelona.The striker, 33, has penned a two-year deal at Stamford Bridge with the option for a third season.
      Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang has completed his £10million move from Barcelona to ChelseaCredit: https://twitter.com/ChelseaFC
      Chelsea left-back Marcos Alonso is expected to be announced as a Barcelona player imminentlyCredit: Getty
      And Aubameyang’s arrival is expected to see Marcos Alonso leave Chelsea in the opposite direction after six years of service.
      Neither club have revealed whether Alonso has formed part of the deal or has ended his contract at Chelsea to move to the Nou Camp.
      Chelsea chairman Todd Boehly said: “Pierre-Emerick is an elite striker with a proven track record in the Premier League and his arrival strengthens our squad, giving us new attacking options.
      “We are thrilled to have Pierre-Emerick on board with us in the new era at Chelsea and we’re really looking forward to working with him.”
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      And Barca paid a glowing tribute to the man they signed from Arsenal on a free transfer.
      Their statement read: “FC Barcelona publicly expresses its gratitude to Aubameyang for his professionalism, commitment, dedication and ever-present positive and warm approach regarding every aspect involving the Club.
      “We wish him the best of fortune and every success in the future.
      “Your smile radiated happiness both on and off the pitch, thank you. Barça will always be your home.”
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      Thomas Tuchel was desperate to land a proven goalscorer before Thursday’s deadline.
      Aubameyang worked with Tuchel at Borussia Dortmund between 2015 and 2017, scoring an incredible 79 goals.
      And Chelsea fans will be hoping the pair can work their magic together again after a dire start to the new season.
      Aubameyang, who scored 92 goals in four years at Arsenal, only joined Barca in February.
      He netted 13 strikes in 23 games, but jumped at the chance to return to England following Barcelona’s capture of Robert Lewandowski.
      Meanwhile, Alonso is expected to pen a three-year contract at Barcelona.
      The left-back, 31, made 212 appearances at Chelsea following a £24m move from Fiorentina in 2016, scoring an impressive 29 goals.
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      Alonso won the Premier League, FA Cup, Europa League and Champions League during his time at the Bridge.
      And he will now battle Jordi Alba for a place in Xavi Hernandez’s side after Barca’s No18 rejected a loan switch to Inter Milan. More

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      Michy Batshuayi transfer from Chelsea to Nottingham Forest COLLAPSES after documents not sent in time

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      NOTTINGHAM FOREST have signed their TWENTIETH player of the summer – but it ISN’T Michy Batshuayi.The 28-year-old Chelsea striker was reportedly heading to the City Ground to increase Forest’s spending to over £150MILLION.
      Batshuayi saw a move to Nottingham Forest collapse at the last minuteCredit: Getty
      But Sky Sports reported that the deal COLLAPSED at the last minute because the documents were not sent on time.
      Forest did make it 20 for the summer though as they snared Blackpool star Josh Bowler.
      The 23-year-old, signed for around £4million, has been immediately loaned out to Greek giants Olympiakos.
      Batshuayi  was looking to end a difficult tenure at Chelsea, where he joined in 2016, having made 77 appearances and scoring 25 goals.
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      The forward has been loaned out FIVE times during his spell at Stamford Bridge with his contract at the club set to expire next summer.
      He was last seen in the English top flight at Crystal Palace, moving across London for two stints at Selhurst Park.
      BOwler, however, is joining a party of other stars this summer.
      The club confirmed the arrival of Wolves defender Willy Boly earlier on Thursday.
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      And Steve Cooper’s team may not even have finished announcing late signings.
      They’re also targeting free agent Serge Aurier.
      Forest’s new haul of players weren’t able to stop the side getting smashed for six by Manchester City on Wednesday night.
      Superstar Erling Haaland netted a 26-minute hat-trick in the massacre.
      Meanwhile, Cooper revealed Forest’s new arrival Moussa Niakhate is set to be sidelined for a “few months” with a thigh injury suffered against West Ham. More

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      Memphis Depay announces he will STAY at Barcelona after being linked with Chelsea and Man Utd transfers

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      MEMPHIS DEPAY has confirmed he will stay at Barcelona after being linked with a deadline day move to England.Chelsea and Manchester United were both keen on landing the Dutch forward.
      Memphis Depay has snubbed Chelsea and Man Utd to stay at BarcelonaCredit: Alamy
      I have decided to stay at Barça ! Fully committed to contribute to the club’s sporting success. 💙❤️ #ViscaBarca— Memphis Depay (@Memphis) September 1, 2022

      And reports from Spain claimed Depay received lucrative offers to leave the Nou Camp on Thursday.
      But the versatile attacker has now posted a statement on social media declaring he will be a Barcelona player this season.
      Depay declared: “I have decided to stay at Barca!
      “Fully committed to contribute to the club’s sporting success.”
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      It marks a stunning U-turn from both Depay and Barcelona, with the Spanish club prepared to rip up his contract earlier on Thursday.
      Depay had reportedly submitted a transfer request on Wednesday, a week after his free move to Juventus fell through over personal terms.
      United were thought to be monitoring the situation of their former player despite spending £84million on Ajax winger Antony.
      But it was Chelsea who apparently came forward with a deadline day offer as they also closed in on Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang.
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      However, Depay has now brought his transfer saga to a close.
      It means Barcelona will have six star forwards competing for just three positions in Xavi Hernandez’s team.
      Robert Lewandowski and Raphinha were both added to the mix for large transfer fees.
      Meanwhile, Ferran Torres, Ansu Fati and Ousmane Dembele are also still starring at the Nou Camp. More

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      Fans say same thing as Chelsea staffer escorting Aubameyang ‘attacks’ Sky Sports’ cameraman to stop ace being filmed

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      A CHELSEA staff member bizarrely tried to stop Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang from being filmed after the striker was spotted in London.The heavy handed tactics drew the same response from fans, who were baffled as to why there was any need.

      Piere Emerick Aubameyang in London for his Chelsea medicalCredit: Sky Sports News
      A Chelsea staffer blocks the cameramanCredit: Sky Sports News
      Sky Sports managed to get the lowdown on where Aubameyang would be in London to complete his transfer.
      As the former Arsenal man exited a taxi and walked into what appeared to be a hotel, he seemed happy to chat to reporter Gary Cotterill.
      But one member of Aubameyang’s entourage, understood to be a Chelsea staff member, didn’t take too well to the ambush.
      Numerous times he shoved his hand into the camera lens in an attempt to stop the Sky Sports cameras from filming the forward.
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      Fans were left confused, with one saying: “You’d rather attack the mic guy and have it on film? Lol.”
      Another added: “Attack the camera man but allow the guy with the mic to interview the player? What sort of logic is this.”
      One commented: “Lol who is the dork covering up the camera? I mean weird ambush on Aubameyang but what does that dude think he’s protecting by covering up the camera.”
      Another joked: “Why’s he covering the camera as if Aubameyang is bouncing into court.”
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      They even laughed about the incident back in the Sky Sports studio, with pundit Clinton Morrison getting out of his seat to put his hand in front of the camera.
      The awkward incident came as Aubameyang, 33, arrived in London ahead of his move to Chelsea.
      They struck a deal with Barcelona of £12million with Marcos Alonso, 31, heading the other way.
      It sets up a reunion between Aubameyang and Thomas Tuchel, who worked together at Borussia Dortmund.
      The striker later left in 2018 to join Arsenal, where he would make 163 appearances, scoring 92 goals and captaining the side.
      But following a fallout with manager Mikel Arteta, which saw the forward stripped of the armband and exiled, Aubameyang left.
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      He saw his Gunners contract terminated, paving the way for a move to Barcelona last January.
      The Gabonese international managed 13 goals in 24 matches but Aubameyang is now braced for a return to London.
      Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang joined Barcelona in JanuaryCredit: Getty More

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      Aubameyang arrives in London to complete Chelsea medical ahead of £12m transfer with Alonso joining Barcelona

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      PIERRE-EMERICK AUBAMEYANG has arrived in London to complete a £12million Chelsea transfer with Marcos Alonso set to go the other way.The Blues agreed a deal with Barcelona for the forward Aubameyang, who has worked with Tuchel previously at Borussia Dortmund.

      Aubameyang arrived in London for a Chelsea medical on Thursday nightCredit: Sky Sports News
      The Blues latest offer is worth £12m plus AlonsoCredit: Rex
      Alonso is a long-time target of BarcaCredit: Getty
      And Sky Sports footage shows Aubameyang, 33, has arrived in England in order to complete the deal.
      The video shows the ex-Arsenal striker getting out of a taxi in the capital with his representatives.
      The Blues are proposing a two-year contract for Aubameyang with the option for a third.
      But the extension depends on the player’s performances during the second year of his contract.
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      All parties are confident of finalising the move before the transfer window slams shut on Thursday evening.
      The Blues have been in the market for a forward following the departures of Romelu Lukaku and Timo Werner and have finally got the man they wanted.
      Academy product Armando Broja is the only recognised striker in Thomas Tuchel’s first team but Kai Havertz is preferred to lead the line.
      A move to London may suit the Aubameyang family after their Catalonia home was broken into at the weekend.
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      Aubameyang was smashed on the chin with an iron bar, breaking his jaw, while trying to protect his wife and two children from the robbers.
      He is set to be out of action for a number of weeks and could potentially undergo surgery.
      Going under the knife would see him return to action sooner than waiting for his jaw to heal naturally.
      Long-time servant Alonso will go the other way back to his homeland.
      Barca will be pleased to have Alonso a part of the deal having tracked the left-back, 31, all summer. More