Chelsea transfer news: Blues flop to snub Aston Villa for MLS move

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Chelsea striker Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang has reportedly agreed a deal to sign for reigning MLS champions LAFC, with Aston Villa set to miss out on the Gabon superstar despite recent links.

According to Le 10 Sport, the California-based franchise have reached an agreement with Chelsea to sign Aubameyang, who is set to leave the Premier League just six months after joining the Blues from FC Barcelona, which was also only a short-term move.

The Athletic had recently reported that Unai Emery was keen on signing Aubameyang, however, Villa were unable to reach a deal to bring the £160,000-a-week Chelsea man to Villa Park, with the former Arsenal captain now set to join LAFC ahead of the 2023 season.

With Gareth Bale announcing his retirement and LAFC making some major squad changes, Aubameyang is expected to join Steve Cherundolo’s side as one of the club’s biggest earners in a move that could be considered quite the coup for MLS.

Indeed, whilst Aubameyang has struggled massively for Chelsea this season, there’s a stong chance that the former Borussia Dortmund star will flourish in America with LAFC, with fans and pundits already tipping the attacker to lead the Angles to a second MLS Cup.

As for Villa, missing out on Aubameyang will be seen as a blow given how well the striker performed under Emery in their years together at Arsenal. Yet given the forward’s form this season at Chelsea, the 33-year-old heading to America could be a blessing in disguise for the Villians.

Aubameyang signing for LAFC could be a masterstroke for all parties

Aubameyang’s move to Chelsea seemed doomed from the start when Thomas Tuchel was sacked just after one game since the striker’s return to England. Yet with a transfer to MLS now in motion, the former Arsenal superstar could be making a masterstroke of a move by heading to the west coast with LAFC.

After all, MLS is now no longer the retirement league that many used to joke about regarding the division during the David Beckham years. And with Aubameyang still in good knick, there’s every chance that the attacker could be a hit in Los Angeles if he can hit the ground running.