Aston Villa ‘explore’ shock move for Chelsea star - Unai Emery is ‘fond’ of the player

Aston Villa are ‘exploring’ the possibility of signing Chelsea striker Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang in the summer, according to a reputable report. The forward, who has already worked under Unai Emery from the pair’s shared time at Arsenal, has struggled for minutes this season but remains a clinical and pacy option.

Signing for Chelsea on deadline day in September, Aubameyang shocked supporters across the globe with a sudden move back to the English capital. The former Gabon international had left the Premier League for Barcelona after a public fallout with Mikel Arteta at Arsenal but it took him just six months to make a return.

Aubameyang has only scored one league goal for Chelsea since, however, despite joining in a deal worth around €12 million (£10.6 million). He has struggled for game time under new manager Graham Potter as a result of injury issues and the new man in the dugout favouring Kai Havertz as a centre forward.

The Athletic reports that a move to Villa could be a way out for Aubameyang to reignite his career. It is said that“Emery is known to be fond” of the Chelsea ace and a transfer “may be an option explored in the summer” amid the Villans’ need for a new forward following the departure of Danny Ings.

Albeit not the current first choice for a disappointing Blues team, Aubameyang would still likely have a lot to give if he did travel to the West Midlands. The 33-year-old, who turns 34 in June, scored 92 goals and contributed 21 assists in 163 appearances for Arsenal in his late twenties.

He was also very clinical in Germany for Borussia Dortmund throughout a four-and-a-half-year spell, as he netted 141 times in 213 games. For Gabon, before retiring from international football in May 2022, Aubameyang converted on 30 occasions in 73 matches.