Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang is choosing to reject a loan move to the MLS as he intends to fight for his spot at Chelsea, according to reports.
Despite the promise of a multi-league striker coming to help Chelsea take back their spot at the top of English football this season, the former Arsenal man has failed to make any meaningful impact at Stamford Bridge.
He has, in fact, become surplus to requirements at the club, who have gone ahead to amass eight new attackers since they signed him. This led to their yanking him off their UEFA Champions League squad list for the rest of the season while relegating him to under 20 minutes appearances on days he is called upon.
Aubameyang looks out of place at Chelsea and the club are looking for a way out for him. A rumoured return to Barcelona was on the cards in the January transfer window but nothing materialised of that talk. MLS franchise Los Angeles FC stepped in, offering to take him on loan and give him some gametime, but the deal was not completed before the transfer window deadline.
Seeing as the MLS operates a different transfer window to Europe, they are still in talks with Chelsea who have decided to send the former Gabon international on loan for the rest of the season. However, Aubameyang is reportedly not interested in the move as he intends to convince Graham Potter of his quality.
Aubameyang is also of the opinion that a move to the MLS is the final straw and believes his career has not come to that level yet. He is also looking at sealing a move to another European side and believes that staying in Europe will do better for his prospects ahead of the summer window.
Barcelona are reported to maintain an interest in him after his six-month stint which helped Xavi Hernandez get off to a brilliant start in his European coaching career. Their LaLiga rivals Atlético de Madrid are also interested, and the striker is drawing interest from his former club AC Milan as well.
Meanwhile, Potter praised the 33-year-old’s professionalism and his reaction to being dropped from the Chelsea Champions League squad.
“He has been training well with us this week,” Potter said ahead of Chelsea’s clash with West Ham United.
“He is a really good professional, supporting his teammates and while he is here he is doing what he is expected to do which is train well and act well.”
