Arsenal hitman, Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, was Frank Lampard’s number one strike target, but the Chelsea boss and technical and performance director Petr Cech were both overruled by the board as they pushed for the signing of Timo Werner.
The biggest transfer story of the summer so far broke in the past few days when RB Leipzig superstar Timo Werner agreed on a move to Stamford Bridge.
Notching an incredible 31 goals in 41 appearances in all competitions this season, the 24-year-old had attracted the interest from a number of Premier League clubs.
With the player previously expressing his desire to move to Anfield, many predicted The Reds would activate Werner’s release clause of around £50m.
However, Liverpool and Klopp’s interest waned, and Chelsea swooped in to secure the services of one of Europe’s most clinical finishers.
Despite this, a remarkable report from British newspaper The Metro (who cite The Athletic’s Ornstein and Chapman podcast) has revealed that Blues boss Lampard had pushed to sign Arsenal’s Aubameyang instead.
The Gabon superstar’s contract at The Emirates expires next summer, and with no new deal seemingly in the works, speculation has been rife the club could cash in on their talisman to offset the chances of losing him for free in 12 months’ time.
The Metro note that Chelsea has been ‘targeting a move for Aubameyang in the January transfer window before changing their focus to Werner.’
The main drivers behind the club’s interest are revealed to have been Lampard and Cech, with the duo ‘pushing the club’s hierarchy to complete a deal.’
At the age of 30, Aubameyang was deemed unsuitable as a signing due to his lack of re-sale value, and the board instead wished to sign a younger striker like Werner, despite him not being ‘at the very top of Lampard’s shortlist.’
Meanwhile, Liverpool legend Robbie Fowler has expressed why he believes Werner isn’t worthy of the hype that is currently surrounding him.
“This is the reality – all those other clubs, Barcelona, Liverpool, Juventus, Real Madrid, Man City and United have looked at him and thought, in the current market, his release clause fee is too high.
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“How do we know that? Because otherwise they would have activated it.
“So you’re left with Chelsea, who through a unique set of circumstances have almost £60m to spend because of a deal from last summer in selling Alvaro Morata to Atletico Madrid that only kicks in this summer.”