WHAT THE PAPERS SAY
PIERRE-EMERICK AUBAMEYANG is doing his utmost to instigate a transfer away from Borussia Dortmund before the window slams shut at the end of August.
The Gabon striker, who has been tailed by a host of European football’s top clubs all summer – including Chelsea and AC Milan – confirmed to boss Peter Bosz that his future lies elsewhere.
Goalscoring machine Aubameyang, 28, feels he can only “grow” as a player away from Westfalenstadion following his rapid rise to becoming one of the best forwards around in the past two seasons.
“This club and these fans are incredible, but if I want to grow, I feel I need to leave,” he is reported as saying by Radio Montecarlo Italy.
Aubameyang made a goalscoring start to the Bundesliga season against Wolfsburg.
A move to Serie A and back to Milan – the club where he started his professional career but failed to play a senior match – could tempt the talent while the Premier League is believed to be his preferred destination.
The Sun is reporting Chelsea could table a bid in the coming days, in the region of £60m, for his signature.
Elsewhere, it could be the end of an era at Barca, as the Daily Mail reports ANDRES INIESTA is yet to sign a new deal with less than 12 months left on his current contract.
Club legend: Iniesta has spent 21 years at the Nou Camp.
Meanwhile, Arsenal have offered ALEX-OXLADE CHAMBERLAIN a new contract to ward off interest from Chelsea, according to the Daily Star.
ONLINE/SOCIAL ROUND-UP
@talkSPORT – “Diego Costa turned down huge £13m deal to move on loan to China until November”
@ESPNFC – “Sources: Manchester United expect Zlatan Ibrahimovic to sign a new contract this week”
PLAYERS TO WATCH
KEVIN WIMMER – Tottenham have sanctioned a move for the Austrian defender, and Tony Pulis is weighing up whether to bring him to West Brom, according to the Birmingham Mail.
WILLIAM CARVALHO – Sky Sports reports West Ham are finally close to sealing a deal for the Sporting Lisbon midfielder.
Set for a Premier League move? Carvalho.