Out-of-favour Chelsea striker Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang is reportedly in talks over a move to MLS champions Los Angeles FC.
The 33-year-old's return to the Premier League with Chelsea has been a miserable affair, and he was recently left out of their Champions League squad for the knockout stages.
Aubameyang has managed just three goals and one assist in 17 appearances for the Blues since joining from Barcelona last summer, initially to reunite with Thomas Tuchel.
However, Tuchel was sacked only a couple of weeks into Aubameyang's stay, and the former Arsenal striker has only started four Premier League matches under Graham Potter.
With Aubameyang's contract due to expire at the end of next season, Chelsea are expected to try to recoup a fee for the Gabon international this summer before he departs on a free transfer in 2024.
Barcelona are reportedly keen to bring Aubameyang back to Camp Nou, where he impressed with 13 goals in 24 games during his only half-season in Catalonia.
AC Milan - another of Aubameyang's former clubs - and Atletico Madrid are also said to have made enquiries over a move for the 33-year-old, who could not have signed for a third club in January after already representing Barcelona and Chelsea this term.
With the striker now expected to explore pastures new in the summer, Relevo claims that Chelsea and Los Angeles FC are in direct communication over a deal.
Clubs in MLS can trade until April 24, giving Chelsea and LAFC plenty of time to come to an agreement, although it is unclear if Aubameyang is keen on a move to the United States.
While Barcelona would have welcomed him back to Catalonia with open arms last month, the report adds that such a negotiation would have been impossible, as RFEF regulations state that a player cannot be registered for the same team twice in one season.
After being left out of Chelsea's European squad, Aubameyang was not involved in Friday's West London derby with Fulham, but Potter has no concerns about the striker's professionalism.
"I don't think it's going to be difficult because Pierre is a professional and of course, I understand he will be disappointed. It was a tough decision, a tough call. He was the one that missed out, he's done nothing wrong at all," Potter told reporters.
"Pierre is just unfortunate and he will be fighting for his place for the rest of the season. He trained today [Friday], he trained very well and he's got the weekend off so we can report on Monday. It's a free world.
"Whichever decision we made there was always going to be a conversation about it but it was my decision. It was a tough decision absolutely, sometimes you have to make these calls but it's absolutely nothing bad against him.
"It was difficult [telling him] because I am empathetic so I understand his disappointment but I've got a responsibility to make these tough decisions and to articulate them as honestly and as well as I can to the player and then respect the fact that he's going to be disappointed.
"He's handled it very well, trained today fantastically which is what I would expect. He's been a top guy for us. Everything is up for grabs. He's got to keep working, train like he did today and be ready to play because football changes quickly. That's the nature of the game."
Without Aubameyang in the squad, Chelsea laboured to a 0-0 draw against Fulham, leaving them ninth in the Premier League table and 10 points adrift of the Champions League places. body check tags ::
