Aubameyang nears Chelsea exit as European Super League details emerge

10 February 2023 , 04:30

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Graham Potter's Chelsea travel to West Ham on Saturday looking for just their second victory of 2023 despite a big-spending January.

The Blues splashed the cash to bring in record signing Enzo Fernandez on deadline day, having already moved for the likes of Benoit Badiashile and Mykhaylo Mudryk earlier in the window. They also sealed a loan move for Joao Felix, who is available again on Sunday after serving a three-match ban.

After the influx of new players, Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang has been cut from Potter's Champions League squad and could finally have an exit route. That's just one of the latest lines from around Stamford Bridge.

Aubameyang's way out

Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang is nearing a move to Los Angeles FC after falling down the pecking order at Stamford Bridge. The Gabonese striker was dropped from the Blues' European squad to make way for new recruits Mudryk and Joao Felix, with now-departed midfielder Jorginho freeing up a spot for Fernandez.

LAFC won the Major League Soccer supporters' shield last season, adding the MLS Cup after a penalty shoot-out victory over Philadelphia Union. They have had a space in their squad for a high-earning player after the retirement of Gareth Bale.

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Reports in France suggest talks have begun over a loan deal which would let Chelsea offload the wages of the summer signing from Barcelona. However, some final details still need ironing out at the time of writing.

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Torres makes Chelsea v Liverpool call

Fernando Torres has made clear his preference for Liverpool over Chelsea in a Q&A ahead of the Champions League returning. He also favoured his former Reds team-mate Steven Gerrard over Frank Lampard, despite winning two European titles with the Blues legend.

What do you make of Torres' choice? Have your say in the comments section

Fernando Torres won the Champions League with Chelsea in 2012 (AFP/Getty Images)

Torres developed into one of the Premier League's best strikers while at Anfield, before joining Chelsea for a club record £50m fee in 2011. Despite winning the Champions League and Europa League with the Blues, he retains a fondness for his first English club.

"One of the regrets I have is the way I left the club," he told Liverpool's website three years ago. "With time, I think I could explain the reasons. I'm really happy that every time I go anywhere in the world, I see Liverpool fans and they come to me and thank me for my time here."

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Super League plans

Plans for a new European Super League have come to light, less than two years after initial proposals were shot down. Chelsea were among several Premier League clubs involved in talks in 2021, only for fans across the country to make their position clear.

The new version takes the form of a multi-divisional project made up of between 60 and 80 teams. Those involved would play a minimum of 14 matches each season.

Unlike the 2021 plans, the new idea does not involve any Premier League sides. European giants Real Madrid, Barcelona and Juventus are said to be leading the idea amid concerns about European clubs' financial future.