Manchester United head coach Erik ten Hag reportedly has reservations over a summer move for Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang.
The 33-year-old only joined Barcelona in January after terminating his contract at Arsenal, but there have been suggestions that he could be on the move before the end of the transfer window.
Chelsea have recently been credited with an interest in the forward, with the Blues looking to bring in a replacement for Romelu Lukaku before the end of the window.
According to The Athletic, Man United are also potential suitors for the former Gabon international, but Ten Hag is reluctant to bring him to Old Trafford this summer.
The report claims that the Dutchman has reservations over a move for Aubameyang, as well as Mauro Icardi, who has been told that he is free to leave Paris Saint-Germain this summer.
© Reuters
Aubameyang is in the squad for Barcelona's 2022-23 La Liga season opener against Rayo Vallecano, but he could find it difficult to secure regular starts this term due to the arrival of Robert Lewandowski.
The striker played in the Premier League for Arsenal between 2018 and 2022, scoring 92 goals in 163 appearances for the Gunners in all competitions, but he was allowed to join Barcelona on a free transfer earlier this year following the breakdown of his relationship with head coach Mikel Arteta.
Aubameyang was a key player for the Catalan side in the second half of last season, scoring 13 goals and registering one assist in 23 appearances, including 11 goals in 17 La Liga outings.
The attacker has a contract at Camp Nou until June 2025, although there is a clause in the deal which would allow him to leave next June if both parties agreed to a departure.
"I am counting on him (Aubameyang). I'm really delighted with him, he can help us. Those I am not counting on already know, they know won't play. Between now and 31 August, different things can happen, but I like Auba, he can help us," Xavi told reporters on Friday.
"It is the same as Auba, he (Frenkie de Jong) is important for me. He's in the squad and we will use him. I don't know what will happen between now and 31 August, but not just with Frenkie or with Auba, with almost everyone in the squad."
© Reuters
Cristiano Ronaldo is allegedly expected to remain at Man United this summer despite spending the last six weeks pushing for a departure, but the club are still short of options in the final third of the field.
Icardi has also recently been linked with the Red Devils, and a report claimed that the club were in talks with his agent and wife Wanda Nara over a switch to Old Trafford.
However, suggestions of a possible deal for the Argentina international are believed to be wide of the mark, with Ten Hag not keen on a move for the 29-year-old.
Icardi joined PSG from Inter Milan in 2019, initially on loan, and he has represented the reigning French champions on 92 occasions in all competitions, scoring 38 goals and contributing 10 assists.
Icardi made 30 appearances for PSG during the 2021-22 campaign, but he only found the back of the net on five occasions in all competitions, and he has been told that he is free to leave Christophe Galtier's side before the end of the window.
Matt Law
