Chelsea could yet pull off a staggering double transfer for Barcelona duo Frenkie de Jong and Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang this summer as Todd Boehly continues to look for all possible options to please Thomas Tuchel.
There are ongoing talks for both players, football.london understands, and there is just as good a chance that both deals get done as neither do, as things stand. De Jong negotiations have been complicated by his wage issue at Barcelona but he would be open to a move if it was to transpire and Aubameyang is also interested in returning to London if a deal was reached.
The thing that holds both deals up is that there is just as much willingness to stay in Spain. Had Barcelona not been plummeted into ongoing financial turmoil then perhaps neither transfer would even be discussed, and it's this that makes proceeding extremely hard.
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Every deal with the Catalan club is fraught with what-ifs and plenty of waiting for external events, and Chelsea are in a rush. If they can't do a deal for these two, who are also competing with Wesley Fofana as the top transfer target, then Tuchel will need another reinforcement instead.
As much as the situation is hard to predict, Barcelona manager Xavi is still standing by his players, telling reporters: "I consider Frenkie important for me, he's in the squad and that's it. Until August 31st, we'll see because the market is still open.
"We don't know what's going to happen with many players until the end of the window."
There has also been a reaffirmation with Aubameyang that, although a £20million bid could be accepted, the striker is still a player Xavi wants to keep around. The former-Spain midfielder said: "I'm counting on Aubameyang. I'm really delighted with him, he can help us. Those I am not counting on already know, they know they won't play. Between now and August 31, different things can happen. I really like Aubameyang."
Tuchel also likes Aubameyang and the pair share a brilliant relationship after the Gabon striker's brilliant two years under the German at Borussia Dortmund. Having previously spoken positively of the former-Arsenal captain, Tuchel also added: "I enjoyed a lot working with him [at Borussia Dortmund]. It was a pleasure. This has nothing to do with the situation now, but players stay your players because you work very, very close. Auba is one of these players.
"We had a very close relationship. Always when we played him here with Arsenal, there was always straight away this close bond. They always stay your players in a way, Auba is one of these guys.
"No concerns [of a bad attitude] because I experienced none of this. This is nothing to do with the situation in Arsenal, which I will also not comment on out of respect. It's not on me to comment, and I don't know what happened. In Dortmund, there was never an issue."
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