Paper Round: Chelsea closing in on Borussia Dortmund's Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang in £65m deal

According to today's papers, Chelsea want Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang and will let Nemanja Matic leave, Real Madrid can't afford David de Gea while Arsene Wenger is apparently texting Alexis Sanchez to stay.

Chelsea close in on Aubameyang

After weeks of struggling in the transfer market, and losing out on Romelu Lukaku to Manchester United, Chelsea's transfer plans have kicked into action. They signed Antonio Rudiger, and have now lined up Borussia Dortmund striker Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang. The 28-year-old Gabon striker will replace Diego Costa, who is likely to be sold to Atletico Madrid, before he is sent out on a six-month loan to a Chinese club. 

Our view: Chelsea needs to move on from losing Lukaku to their rival and that means signing a striker that will replace the outgoing Costa. No one knows, Costa might still have a future at Stamford Bridge. Chelsea are also interested in Real Madrid's Alvaro Morata, but the cost might scare them away so Aubameyang might look a pretty nice option. 

 

Wenger texting Sanchez in attempt to keep striker

Alexis Sanchez could stay at Arsenal yet. Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger has been texting Sanchez over the summer and reported that things are 'positive. The 28-year-old Chilean is enjoying a break after his Confederations Cup exertions, and Wenger believes that Sanchez will remain at the Emirates for at least one more season. His team-mates, however, believe that he will link up with Manchester City and Pep Guardiola.

Our view: My view about Wenger is that he doesn't face reality. Sanchez wants to go and there's no need in trying to keep a player who wants to go, so why no cash in on him now why you still can than allow him leave for free next summer.

 

Matic left behind to resolve future

Nemanja Matic will not join Chelsea on their pre-season tour as he looks to resolve his future. The 28-year-old Serbian prefers a move to Manchester United and his former boss Jose Mourinho, but a deal with Juventus may be easier to negotiate. Juventus and Chelsea are already in talks over Brazilian defender Alex Sandro, and Antonio Conte is willing to sanction Matic's departure now that he has completed a deal to bring Tiemoue Bakayoko in from Monaco.

Our view: Of course United are interested in signing Matic while the player himself will also prefer a move to United. But Chelsea holds the key in determining where Matic ends in this summer. After losing top target Lukaku to United, Chelsea will be too mad to sell Matic to them so expect a move to Juventus which is very likely if they can persuade Matic to leave for Juventus ahead of Manchester United.

 

United confident that Real cannot afford De Gea

Manchester United are confident of retaining David de Gea for at least another season. United believe that Real lack the funds to push through a transfer, in a season where defenders are going for sums of £40-50m. Real have failed to sell Alvaro Morata for their desired £70m, and have offloaded James Rodriguez onto Bayern Munich on a cheap, two-year loan deal. With De Gea more settled in Manchester, too, United are not concerned that he will force his way out.

Our view: Why should anyone think Real can't get any player hey want? Wether they sell anyone or not, Real gets a player when they want to. So this might be the papers trying to instigate a reaction from Real. All the same it seems De Gea is settled at United this season. He might go but for now he remains a United player.