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LONDON. — Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang has agreed to join Marseille and take a considerable pay cut to end his Chelsea nightmare.
But Chelsea have told Marseille they want £5 million for the 34-year-old and the deal could hinge on whether the Blues are willing to forego a transfer fee and let him leave for nothing.
Marseille had hoped to sign Aubameyang on a free after the striker agreed a two-year contract, with an option of a further year, to move to Ligue 1.
Should Chelsea demand a transfer fee then Aubameyang could lose out financially, as Marseille are likely to want to renegotiate the terms of his contract.
Aubameyang is thought to earn around £150,000 a week at Chelsea and will take a significant drop in wages to join Marseille.
Talks are continuing, with all parties keen to strike a deal for Aubameyang to leave Chelsea after a difficult year at Stamford Bridge.
Aubameyang joined Chelsea for £12m last summer to be reunited with Thomas Tuchel, but the German was sacked less than a week later.
In 22 appearances for Chelsea last season, Aubameyang scored just three goals.
Meanwhile, Brighton have rejected a second Chelsea bid, believed to be about £70m, for midfielder Moises Caicedo.
The Ecuador international asked to leave Brighton in January amid interest from Arsenal.
Brighton refused and Caicedo subsequently signed a new contract in March that runs to 2027.
However, he remains of huge interest to a number of Premier League clubs, with Chelsea most keen to sign the 21-year-old.
Chelsea are scheduled to meet Brighton in the opening game of the Premier League’s six-team pre-season tournament in Philadelphia on Saturday.
Caicedo will travel to the US direct from Ecuador having been given extra time off, while Brighton’s squad was scheduled to fly out yesterday.
He joined Brighton from Ecuadorian side Independiente del Valle for a reported £4.5m in February 2021 but did not play that season. — Wires
Online Reporter