Chelsea are continuing to chase Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang this summer but are not yet meeting Barcelona's valuation.
The Blues are on the hunt for a striker as their struggles in front of goal continue at this early stage of the season. Aubameyang only moved to the Nou Camp at the start of this year after being released by Arsenal, but the Catalans could be willing to cash in.
Barcelona are looking to register new signing Jules Kounde and need to raise funds. They are looking for €20million (£17m) before they let Aubameyang go, but so far Chelsea have only offered €14m (£12m), according to French outlet Foot Mercato. The transfer fee remains the only sticking point.
The West Londoners reportedly have a total agreement with the player himself, so the deal could be wrapped up swiftly if they can match Barcelona's valuation. Aubameyang proved his mettle in England's top flight with Arsenal, where he had an impressive strike rate.
During his time at the Gunners, the Gabon international scored 68 times in 128 Premier League games. Chelsea are feeling the effects of letting Romelu Lukaku and Timo Werner leave this summer, with two of their three goals this season coming from defenders and the other a penalty from Jorginho. They have added Raheem Sterling, but the Englishman is more effective as a winger than a centre-forward.
Thomas Tuchel is well aware of Aubameyang's qualities, having worked with the forward previously at Borussia Dortmund, where he was also prolific. The German has talked up the Barcelona striker, who he admits he has a "close bond" with.
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"This is totally separate from anything that is happening now, but I enjoyed a lot working with Auba while I was at Dortmund," the Blues boss has told Sky Sports. "Some players stay your players because you were very, very close. And Auba is one of those players. There was always straight away this close bond. They always stay your players in a way."
Tuchel saw his team fail to score in their defeat by Leeds United on Sunday, with their attack unable to create many clear-cut opportunities. Despite that, the Chelsea boss is adamant the club will not panic in the transfer market, with time running out ahead of the 1 September deadline.
"The transfer period is still open and it gets later and later and we need to focus on what we have and what we can do," Tuchel said on Sunday. The only natural No 9 at Stamford Bridge is Armando Broja, who spent last season on loan at Southampton and could yet leave temporarily once more.
