Cameroon striker Vincent Aboubakar is interesting Premier League side Chelsea as he prepares for the World Cup with the Indomitable Lions.
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Chelsea are interested in bringing striker Vincent Aboubakar to the Premier League, as Jose Mourinho looks to rebuild his misfiring strike force ahead of the new season.
A move for Atletico Madrid striker Diego Costa is all but confirmed, however the departure of Samuel Eto’o along with a possible move for Demba Ba means that even more firepower is required at Stamford Bridge.
French newspaper L’Equipe are reporting that Lorient forward Aboubakar is high on Mourinho’s wishlist, with the powerful striker having enjoyed an impressive debut season with the club.
Aboubakar is expected to start alongside Eto’o at the World Cup as Cameroon look to negotiate a tricky Group A that also includes the hosts Brazil alongside Croatia and Mexico, although he faces competition from Mainz star Eric Choupo-Moting for a place.
The Cameroon squad had been having a dispute with their national federation that was related to planned bonus payments for the tournament, although they did eventually fly out to Brazil for the tournament from the Cameroonian capital Yaounde.
Aboubakar had often been touted as a future star during his early years at Valenciennes, the French side who brought him to Europe from the Cameroonian club Coton Sport, where Aboubakar had emerged as a teenager.
Despite making over seventy appearances in Ligue 1 for Valenciennes, however, Aboubakar failed to live up to his early promise, scoring just nine league goals for the club over three years.
A summer bosman move to Lorient has revitalised the 22 year-old, however, as his athletic displays and explosive finishing were central to an impressive season for the Brittany team not traditionally considered as one of France’s biggest clubs.
With Eto’o seen as the team’s key striker and manager Volker Finke often preferring a 4-3-3 formation, Aboubakar may be forced to play in a wide role at the World Cup, but this is something that only goes to underline his versatility and potential.
It is certainly through the centre that Aboubakar is at his most impressive, however, with his sixteen goals for Lorient in Ligue 1 showcasing his ability both on the ground and in the air, his powerful cocktail of strength and pace being something that defenders have always struggled to deal with.
Chelsea are expected to be extremely active in the transfer market this summer, with Costa seen as only the first in a number of signings for Jose Mourinho. His Atletico Madrid teammates Felipe Luis and Tiago have already been mentioned as possible targets for Jose Mourinho as he looks to put the trophyless 2013/14 season behind him.
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