Chelsea 'could TERMINATE outcast Aubameyang's contract this summer'

Chelsea may terminate the contact of Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang at the end of the season, according to reports in Spain.

The 33-year-old striker is out of favour with the Blues and has only played seven minutes in the Premier League since January 21.

Chelsea are reportedly unimpressed at Aubameyang's trip to support his former club Barcelona in El Clasico against Real Madrid on Sunday.

The Spanish giants won 2-1 thanks to a stoppage-time Franck Kessie goal and the veteran was pictured celebrating and posing in Barca's dressing room.

And according to Sport, everything now points towards Chelsea releasing Aubameyang from his contract a year early.

The Spanish outlet also report that though Aubameyang is not in direct contact with Barcelona president Joan Laporta, he has made clear his desire to return to the Catalan side - and could even take a pay cut to force the move through.

The Gabonese international moved to Stamford Bridge for £10million from Barcelona on September 2, re-joining then-boss Thomas Tuchel after seven successful months at the Nou Camp which saw him score 13 goals in 24 games in all competitions.

But Tuchel was fired less than a week later, and though his replacement Graham Potter initially gave Aubameyang lots of game time, he has recently been frozen out of the side and has only scored three times in all competitions for Chelsea.

The 72-cap international was cut from Potter's Champions League squad and has not even made the subs' bench in their last two Premier League matches. With the west London side's desire to cut the wage bill, an early exit could be best for all parties.

Sport add that Aubameyang, who made the club a tidy profit and performed well in his short stint at Barcelona, is well liked by fans and influential figures at the club - and the feeling is mutual.