Arsenal have agreed a deal with Borussia Dortmund for Aubameyang after more than a fortnight’s negotiations and the Gabon international has agreed a three-year contract worth around £180,000 a week, which would make him the highest paid player at the Emirates.
But Dortmund will only sanction the 28-year-old’s sale once they have secured a replacement and, with Arsenal striker Giroud not interested in a move to Germany, they now want Chelsea striker Batshuayi.
The Belgian is keen, with talks ongoing between the clubs potentially over a loan deal with a permanent move in the summer.
But Chelsea will only let Batshuayi move if they can secure a replacement – and they want Arsenal striker Giroud, as revealed In Express Sport on Saturday.
Gunners manager Wenger, whose side visit Swansea this evening, is willing to sell Giroud but wants Chelsea’s Brazilian defender Luiz, another out of favour with manager Antonio Conte, as part of the £35m deal.
He is also in talks with West Brom over defender Jonny Evans.
Chelsea want a loan deal for Giroud but may be willing to offer a permanent move with Luiz included.
Another potential complication is that West Ham and Marseille are also interested in Giroud.
Chelsea’s bid to sign Roma forward Edin Dzeko ground to a halt yesterday, with the Premier League club reluctant to offer a £7m-a-year deal to 2021 for a player who turns 32 in March.
Another option for Chelsea could be Leicester striker Islam Slimani.
Chelsea will today complete the signing of Roma left wing-back Emerson Palmieri for an initial £18m on a four-and-a-half year contract.
The Brazilian flies into London this morning for a medical.
Charly Musonda is to join Celtic on an 18-month loan.