Chelsea manager Thomas Tuchel has reportedly pleaded with owner Todd Boehly to make a move for Barcelona striker Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang.
The Blues are seemingly set to begin the 2022-23 Premier League season with Kai Havertz at the tip of the attack after allowing Romelu Lukaku to rejoin Inter Milan on loan.
Havertz, Raheem Sterling and Mason Mount were chosen to start in the final third in Saturday's Premier League opener with Everton, while Armando Broja settled for a spot on the bench.
Timo Werner missed out entirely amid intense speculation surrounding his future, although the Germany international has been struggling with a hamstring issue of late.
The Blues could still try to sign a new centre-back before the transfer window slams shut, but a centre-forward is also expected to be on the agenda after Lukaku's temporary exit.
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After Barcelona reinforced their attack with the signing of Robert Lewandowski from Bayern Munich, a move for ex-Arsenal striker Aubameyang has been mooted.
Now, journalist Florian Plettenburg claims that Tuchel is open to a move to Aubameyang and has demanded that the club only sign "world-class" players.
Plettenburg adds that Tuchel has blasted the "average" feel of his squad, but he is fighting an uphill battle to prise Aubameyang away from Camp Nou.
A recent report claimed that the Blaugrana hierarchy could be persuaded into letting the 33-year-old leave this summer, but Xavi is keen to keep him at the club.
Aubameyang was stripped of the captaincy and frozen out of the squad in his final few weeks at Arsenal before joining Barcelona in January, but he rediscovered his golden touch in Catalonia.
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The Gabon international ended his first half-season at Barcelona with 13 goals and one assist from 23 games in all tournaments, including 11 strikes in 17 La Liga outings.
Aubameyang is under contract at Barcelona until 2025, but there is understood to be a clause in his contract which could see him leave the club at the end of the current season.
As things stand, Barcelona have yet to register any of their new signings with La Liga amid their long-standing financial problems and may be forced into one or two big name sales to bring their wage bill down.
Xavi is working with a plethora of attacking options for the new season, which could lead Memphis Depay and Martin Braithwaite to head for the exit door either instead of or alongside Aubameyang.
Frenkie de Jong could still be the Blaugrana's most high-profile summer departure, and Chelsea are now said to be firmly in position to hijack Manchester United's move for the Dutchman.
Blues left-back Marcos Alonso is reportedly on the verge of joining Xavi's side, which has led to the possibility of a last-minute player-plus-cash deal involving the 31-year-old and De Jong.
Ben Knapton
