Jamie Carragher gives verdict on Chelsea's decision to sign Aubameyang

Liverpool legend Jamie Carragher has backed Chelsea’s deadline-day move for ‘brilliant player’ Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang.

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Blues owner Todd Boehly and Stamford Bridge boss Thomas Tuchel secured a late deal to sign the former Arsenal captain from Barcelona.

While Aubameyang only spent six months at Barca – scoring 13 goals in 24 appearances – he was one of the best players in the Premier League during his Arsenal career.

The Gabon frontman scored 92 goals in 163 games for the Gunners and helped the club win the FA Cup before he was stripped of the captaincy and exiled by Mikel Arteta.

Aubameyang has said he has ‘unfinished business’ in the Premier League and Carragher believes he will turn out to be a shrewd signing for Chelsea.

The Blues have endured an underwhelming start to the new season and were desperate to sign a new striker after letting club-record signing Romelu Lukaku return to Italy.

‘He’s a quality player, there is no doubt about that,’ Carragher said of Aubameyang on Sky Sports. ‘I think it’s a good signing.

‘People may question Arsenal’s role in this and the fact they let him go for free, and now Chelsea are paying money for him 12 months later.

‘I think it’s a good signing for Thomas Tuchel and Chelsea, and also the right decision from Mikel Arteta – look at where Arsenal are right now.

‘We know Aubameyang brings goals and quality but at times there are maybe situations and misdemeanours off the pitch or within the dressing room and Arteta couldn’t stand for that.

‘But Tuchel knows him well from their time at Borussia Dortmund and, as a neutral, I’m delighted he’s back in the Premier League because he’s a brilliant player.’

Chelsea’s £10m deal for Aubameyang capped an extraordinary summer of spending at Stamford Bridge, with new owner Boehly spending more than £250m in his first transfer window in charge.

Aubameyang joins the likes of Wesley Fofana, Raheem Sterling and Kalidou Koulibaly to join the Blues this summer.

Asked whether Tuchel faces greater pressure following Chelsea’s record-breaking spending spree, Carragher added: ‘Yes, that is the name of the game for any top club, and that has always been the situation at Chelsea.

‘It will be interesting to see if the change in ownership changes how ruthless the club was with managers under Roman Abramovich.

‘But, for me, Thomas Tuchel is one of the best managers in Europe, he’s a Champions League winner, and right now in the Premier League it’s been tough competing with Manchester City and Liverpool.

‘Chelsea did need a rejig at centre-back given the players they lost, so you can understand why they have had to go into the market. But there is no doubt they have paid big money for some of the players.’

After five games of the 2022-23 campaign, Chelsea are only 10th in the Premier League. Tuchel’s side face London rivals West Ham tomorrow.

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