Aubameyang: Pundit discusses potential transfer options
Chelsea boss Frank Lampard must add quality to his squad in the next transfer window but Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang may not be the right player, according to former Blues midfielder Craig Burley. Chelsea have already made one new signing, with Ajax attacking midfielder Hakim Ziyech joining for £33.3million this summer. But the Blues are also in the market for a striker and a left-back.
Lampard wanted to sign a striker in January but failed to bring in the likes of Dries Mertens and Edinson Cavani.
Arsenal captain Aubameyang has emerged as a target with the Gabon star's contract at the Emirates expiring in a year's time.
Burley admits Tammy Abraham needs help up top, despite a promising first season in the Chelsea first team with 15 goals in all competitions.
However, he has questioned whether spending a large part of the transfer budget on a player who turns 31 later this month in Aubameyang would be the right decision.
Chelsea transfer news: Craig Burley has warned Frank Lampard off Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang (Image: ESPN/GETTY)
Aubameyang is Arsenal's leading scorer this season and only Jamie Vardy has scored more than him in the Premier League.
Burley told ESPN FC: "Abraham's a young man who's stepped out of loan periods in the Championship to lead the line for a team that didn't have anybody, well they did have Olivier Giroud and [Michy] Batshuayi, but they didn't have a transfer window to go out and bring anybody in.
"And he has in all fairness to him carried that burden particularly well, way better than I thought he would have.
"However, when you see the gap to the Liverpools and the [Manchester] Citys, when you see the trouncing they got from Bayern Munich in the Champions League, then Frank Lampard and Chelsea know they need to up the quality.
We use your sign-up to provide content in ways you've consented to and to improve our understanding of you. This may include adverts from us and 3rd parties based on our understanding. You can unsubscribe at any time. Read our Privacy Policy
Chelsea transfer news: Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang is out of contract at Arsenal next year (Image: GETTY)
"They've got the transfer ability now with the ban being finished and clearly they need to sign the right players.
"Now, they've been mooted about being interested in Jadon Sancho, but we know others are, particularly Man United.
"They have made some business already with Ziyech from Ajax but clearly they're on the lookout for a front man.
"But you can't blow the budget on a 31-year-old because that is too short-termism and that's the big issue here.
"I kind of get the feeling Aubameyang wants to go from Arsenal because he's not convinced and I wonder how much him and his representatives are going to try and force this come the end of the season."