This past weekend, Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang was back in Barcelona and was seen celebrating the club’s 2-1 win El Clasico win over Real Madrid with his former teammates in the Camp Nou dressing room.
The Chelsea striker spent six months as a Barça player in the second half of the last season and played a key role in ensuring that the Catalans finished as runners-up in La Liga and secured qualification to the UEFA Champions League.
Barcelona’s financial woes and the inability to offload Memphis Depay in the summer meant that they had to unwillingly part ways with Aubameyang, selling him to Chelsea for around €12 million.
But things have not worked out well for the striker back in London and he looks set for a move away again this summer.
And, according to Ferran Martinez of Mundo Deportivo, Barcelona look favourably at the possibility of re-signing Aubameyang in the summer transfer window and see him as a low-cost option to bolster the frontline.
During his short time at Camp Nou, Aubameyang developed a strong bond with the players and the staff. The report states that Xavi was delighted to work with the former Arsenal captain last season and recognises the value he brought to the team.
Hence, they tried to sign him back in January after Memphis Depay left for Atletico Madrid, but RFEF rules prevented a move.
However, the Catalans still have a hope of bringing Aubameyang back to the club as long as the transfer would be feasible and fits within their financial plans.
Even though the current La Liga leaders are pushing for Vitor Roque to provide cover for Robert Lewandowski, having someone like Aubameyang, who can play through the middle or on the left and brings loads of experience, is seen as a plus.
The striker himself has stayed in contact with his former Barça teammates, in particular, Ousmane Dembele. Any move, though, will depend on how the season ends for Chelsea.
The centre-forward has been pretty much frozen out by manager Graham Potter, and has even been axed from the Champions League squad.
Currently lagging behind the UCL spots in the Premier League, if they fail to improve and also crash out of Europe, manager Graham Potter could be shown the doors. It could open the door for Aubameyang to get a second shot at the club.
If not, the ex-Arsenal man looks certain to leave and it will likely be at a low cost considering that Chelsea have devalued him by hardly playing him. In such a scenario, Barcelona will be waiting.
