Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang could escape Chelsea by signing for third team in a season as Los Angeles FC eye former Arsenal and Barcelona man as Gareth Bale replacement

Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang could play for a third team this season, with reports claiming he is in talks with MLS side Los Angeles FC.

Aubameyang’s Chelsea future took a huge knock last week when it was confirmed that he had been removed from their Champions League squad in favour of new signings.

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That meant the Gabon striker would miss a dream reunion with former side Borussia Dortmund in the last-16 of the tournament, and following the news he was then absent for the Blues most recent league game against Fulham.

Aubameyang returned to London after his initial Arsenal stint, joining Chelsea as a free agent from Barcelona in September, however, he’s already played for the Catalan side this season.

According to FIFA rules, the 33-year-old is unable to play for a third team in a single season, while Spanish league rules blocked a return to Barca despite manager Xavi’s keenness to bring him back.

Despite that, a kink in the rules may enable him to escape his Chelsea struggles, due to MLS’ overlapping season.

Unlike the European schedule, the US top tier begins in February, which explains .

FIFA rules state: “Players may be registered with a maximum of three clubs during one season. During this period, the player is only eligible to play official matches for two clubs.

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“As an exception to this rule, a player moving between two clubs belonging to associations with overlapping seasons (i.e. start of the season in summer/autumn as opposed to winter/spring) may be eligible to play in official matches for a third club during the relevant season.”

LAFC are reigning MLS champions having taken home their first MLS Cup last season five years after entering the league.

They did so with the help of Real Madrid and Wales legend Gareth Bale, who joined the team for a six month stint before retiring from football earlier this year.

Aubameyang could be an ideal replacement in California, joining Italy great Giorgio Chiellini in their line-up for the new campaign, and fellow Gabon star Denis Bouanga.