Former Premier League striker Gabriel Agbonlahor fears that Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang could become an outcast at Chelsea under a new manager.
The Blues announced the €12m (£10m) signing of the former Arsenal striker from Barcelona last week on a two-year deal and he made his debut in what proved to be Thomas Tuchel’s final game in charge on Tuesday evening against Dinamo Zagreb.
Chelsea confirmed the next morning that they had parted ways with Thomas Tuchel whom Aubameyang had said it would be an ‘honour and a joy’ to play for once again following ‘good times’ together at Borussia Dortmund.
Now Agbonlahor has voiced his concern and thinks that the 33-year-old striker could find himself frozen out by whoever takes charge.
Speaking to Football Insider he said: “I bet he’s thinking ‘Can I sign somewhere else now?’
“Tuchel signed him because he knows him. Graham Potter or [Mauricio] Pochettino or [Zinedine] Zidane might come in and think ‘You know what, I want to play a younger striker, [Armando] Broja, and look for another one in January’.
“It’s uncertain times for Aubameyang. Maybe someone like Graham Potter might be on the Arteta side and be stricter on the players at the club.
“It’s very strange times for Aubameyang, I bet he’s baffled.”
Even though the Gabonese striker turned 33 in June he still managed to score with regularity following his move from north London to Spain as he netted 13 times in 23 appearances averaging a goal every 116 minutes and despite Agbonlahor’s concerns, it appears that Chelsea officials have already reassured Aubameyang over his position in the squad (The Telegraph) and it is believed that he is grateful for the gesture.
