Barcelona's hopes of securing a new striker ahead of the new season have been boosted after it emerged that Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang is willing to take a significant pay cut to join the club from Chelsea.
The Gabonese striker endured a disappointing spell at Stamford Bridge, scoring just one goal in 13 appearances last season, prompting the Blues to make him available for transfer this summer.
Despite this, Aubameyang remains highly-regarded in European football and is still a valuable asset for any team. He proved his worth during his loan spell with Barcelona last season, where he scored 13 goals in 24 games across all competitions.
Barcelona is currently facing significant financial challenges, and the salary cap has forced the club to adopt a new approach in their transfer dealings. This has led them to pursue players who are willing to take a pay cut in exchange for the opportunity to play for the prestigious Catalan club.
Aubameyang is one such player, and his willingness to take a wage cut to join Barcelona has put him firmly on the club's radar. Reports suggest that he has already been in discussions with the club, and his representatives have expressed their willingness to work out a deal that suits all parties.
Barcelona's current financial situation means that they will need to sell players before making any new signings. Aubameyang's sale could help raise much-needed funds for the club, and Barcelona will likely be keen to negotiate a fair price for the player.
Overall, Aubameyang's potential move to Barcelona could be a win-win for both parties. The striker will have the opportunity to play for a prestigious club, while Barcelona will benefit from his proven goalscoring ability and financial sacrifice. It remains to be seen if a deal can be struck, but it is clear that Barcelona is willing to do whatever it takes to strengthen their squad ahead of the new season.