Barcelona encouraging Chelsea interest in Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang

Barcelona are believed to be open to discussions over a fee for Chelsea target Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang.

Chelsea are understood to retain an interest in Aubameyang, with Thomas Tuchel still retaining a strong relationship with the 33-year-old from the pair's Borussia Dortmund days.

The Blues have already brought in the likes of Raheem Sterling and Kalidou Koulibaly this summer but are ready to continue their spending spree, with the club also still understood to be pushing hard to prise defender Wesley Fofana away from Leicester.

Tuchel still wants a striker to replace Romelu Lukaku, who returned to Inter Milan on loan at the start of the summer.

And former Arsenal captain Aubameyang has now emerged as a genuine target.

Barcelona’s continued financial problems leaves the Catalan giants still battling to balance the books, and offloading players remains a central part of that exercise.

Robert Lewandowski’s arrival from Bayern Munich has left Barca comfortable with Aubameyang leaving for the right terms.

Nou Camp bosses are thought to want to push for upwards of £20m to let Aubameyang leave, but the Blues are also understood to have been encouraged towards making a reasonable offer.

Chelsea could chase a loan deal by shouldering Aubameyang’s full wage packet, but Barca would likely be more in favour of a permanent transfer.

The Blues, who host Antonio Conte’s Tottenham at Stamford Bridge on Sunday, started the new campaign with a 1-0 win at Everton but still want to add more firepower to their ranks.

Tuchel has been heavily involved in the Blues’ recruitment this summer, with new chairman and co-owner Todd Boehly acting as interim sporting director.

Technical director Petr Cech opted to leave the club at the end of the Roman