Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang.
It’s a name that strikes fear into the hearts of Bundesliga stoppers and defenders around the world. The French-born Gabonese international is one of the deadliest strikers in world football and as such is a wanted man. Many a top club have tried and failed to tempt him away from Borussia Dortmund in the last four years.
It’s easy to see why. The 28-year-old is entering the peak years of his career; he is over six foot tall and boasts devastating pace; his movement is a nightmare for defenders; his finishing is consistent, versatile and unerring; he has experience of playing in Italy, France, Germany and of course at Champions League level; he has been honoured as both Bundesliga and African player of the year.
Despite rumours that Liverpool had made a move for the striker this week, the big news on Saturday is that it is Chelsea who have won the race to the sign the player. Considering their desperate need for a world-class striker to replace Diego Costa, it makes perfect sense in so many ways.
Saturday's MIRROR Sport: "Chelsea Grab PEA Shooter" #bbcpapers #tomorrowspaperstoday pic.twitter.com/aPrdHAIuCG
— Allie Hodgkins-Brown (@AllieHBNews) July 14, 2017
The Mirror report the following:
“Chelsea are closing in on a £65million deal for Borussia Dortmund hotshot Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang. Chelsea are desperate to get a striker in but Real Madrid are playing hard ball on Morata and they have had to look elsewhere but are confident of beating off competition for Aubameyang from Liverpool.”
Great news, eh? Chelsea fans must be ecstatic that they’re getting a player who scored 31 goals in 31 games to be crowned Bundesliga top goalscorer ahead of Robert Lewandowski, surely? Well it seems not. In fact, the reaction from the Stamford Bridge faithful has been surprisingly underwhelming. Despite Auba’s 85 goals in 125 appearances in a glittering Dortmund career, Blues fans simply ‘do not want’.
What makes the reaction doubly odd is that the reasons for their unhappiness are numerous. They range from:
- His age (28 years old is hardly old in the modern game)
- A low resale value (why would they care?!)
- He’s overrated (the stats would suggest not)
- They’d prefer Morata or Belotti (fair enough, personal preference)
- He’s too expensive (Sigurdsson £50m, Walker £55m – really?)
- He’s not physically suited to the league (the Bundesliga is no picnic)
- He’s ugly (WTF!)
We get the feeling Liverpool would snap him up in a heartbeat if Chelsea supporters are going to be so fussy.
God please don't allow aubameyang near my club
— kwst_0 (@kwst_0) July 12, 2017
Lol overrated striker. His assist numbers are unimpressive, doesn't create lots of chances himself.
— ꏂ꒒꒒ꀤꌚ (@Irishbutta) July 13, 2017
Nuuu I don't want Aubameyang
— rinne (@rinnegozen) July 15, 2017
Don't want Aubameyang. Spend more on Belotti or Morata who suit us more
— J (@Barrettini4) July 13, 2017
https://twitter.com/lampardesquee/status/885260082803597312
https://twitter.com/cfchampinho/status/886028815323062272
https://twitter.com/Leon_ross93/status/886142750378385408
https://twitter.com/idanknow05/status/885980039845744640
https://twitter.com/Hazardfied/status/886089700037013504
https://twitter.com/VersatileAzpi/status/884474216938078208
But Aubameyang is one ugly fucker lol not that it matters but he is
— Andy B🏆 (@pacesettaCFC) July 11, 2017
https://twitter.com/cfchampinho/status/885868970523463680
https://twitter.com/DavidTReeves/status/886121903630548993
