Aubameyang ‘willing to accept a minimum salary’ to end Chelsea nightmare and return to cash-strapped Barcelona

PIERRE-EMERICK AUBAMEYANG is reportedly willing to accept a huge wage cut to return to Barcelona.

The striker is under contract with Chelsea until 2024 but the Blues are believed to be open to terminating his contract.

Aubameyang has played just 18 games since arriving from Barca for £10million last summer.

A return of three goals has led to the 33-year-old being frozen out, and he could return to the Nou Camp at the end of the season.

According to Sport, Aubameyang is willing to accept a minimum salary at Barcelona, who are still in financial difficulty.

The cash-strapped club were fined £700,000 for breaching Financial Fair Play rules after exceeding salary limits for the free signings of Dani Alves and Andreas Christensen, plus Ronald Araujo’s contract extension.

That means they may not be able to get anywhere close to the reported £160,000 a week Aubameyang earns at Chelsea.

But Aubameyang appears to have an affinity to the club and was warmly welcomed back into the dressing room after he watched Barca beat Real Madrid 2-1 in El Classico last week.

He posed for photos with a delighted Ferran Torres and would likely be a welcome signing after he scored 13 goals in 23 games for the Blaugurana last season.

Manager Xavi admitted he was sad to see Aubameyang leave after he helped his side qualify for the Champions League.

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He said: “I feel bad because he helped us a lot. He was an example on and off the pitch.”

Barcelona reportedly tried to re-sign the Gabon international in January but LaLiga rules prevent a player being registered three different times in one season.