Chelsea are closing in on a £65 million deal for Borussia Dortmund hotshot Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang.
Blues boss Antonio Conte is desperate to solve his striker problem and Chelsea are now in pole position for Aubameyang, after missing out on Romelu Lukaku, and finding it difficult to land Alvaro Morata from Real Madrid.
The move is set to spark a striker merry-go-round as Dortmund have now entered formal talks with Arsenal for France striker Olivier Giroud after Mirror Sport revealed their interest.
Chelsea are also preparing to offload bad boy striker Diego Costa to his former club Atletico Madrid who would then loan him out until January as they are under a transfer embargo. They can sign him but cannot play him until the ban is lifted.
There has been interest from China in a six month loan deal with Costa anxious to play in World Cup year but knows he has no future at Chelsea and has been given an extended break to resolve his future.
Chelsea are desperate to get a striker in but Real Madrid are playing hard ball on Morata and they have had to look elsewhere but are confident of beating off competition for Aubameyang from Liverpool.
Dortmund are hopeful of doing a deal for Giroud as a ready-made replacement and it is understood the Arsenal striker prefers that switch ahead of interest from Everton, West Ham and Marseille.
Arsenal want around £35m for Giroud who has admitted this week that leaving is “an option” after the arrival of Alexandre Lacazette.
