Paul Merson, a former Arsenal and England player, believes that Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang's time at Chelsea is over.
The Gabonese striker joined Chelsea from Barcelona on September's deadline day, but he has yet to find a permanent spot in the front line.
Aubameyang has been replaced in the front by German international Kai Havertz after only scoring three goals in 16 games this season across all competitions. Graham Potter is eager to improve Chelsea's poor run of form.
Following their comprehensive 4-0 defeat of Manchester City on Sunday, the Blues have been eliminated from the FA Cup.
Reportminds Blog understands that Chelsea are currently ranked 10th in the Premier League table.
After Potter's poor start to the season, Merson thinks Chelsea and Potter will "cut ties" with the 33-year-old forward.
After Aubameyang was hooked during Chelsea's Premier League matchup with the defending champions on Thursday, he was left out of Potter's squad for this weekend's FA Cup third round matchup.
'Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang was taken off after coming on as a substitute in the first game against Man City and I think he will now be moved on. I think they will cut their ties with him,' Merson urged in his column for Sky Sports.
'As soon as you are sub-subbing a 30-something player, I think that is probably the end.
'Maybe you can get away with it with a younger player, but in football it's one of those unwritten rules. It's a don't-do.
'But Potter did it with him at 33 and, for me, I think he's done.'
The forward was once regarded as one of the best goal scorers in the world when he played for Arsenal. He scored 92 goals in 163 games, but his career took a turn after he had an argument with Mikel Arteta, the manager of the Gunners.
Aubameyang scored 13 goals in 24 appearances at the Nou Camp following his tumultuous departure from the Emirates in January 2022, prompting Chelsea to pursue his acquisition during the summer window.
According to Merson, Aubameyang's arrival at Stamford Bridge demonstrates Chelsea's "big problem" with recruitment.
He continued: 'It's an example of why recruitment is such a big problem for Chelsea.
'They have brought a couple of players in already and it looks like they are going to have a go in the transfer window. They have to. The top four looks very far away right now but there's a long way to go.
'But if you do that January business and, all of a sudden, Potter goes a week or two later, then another manager will come in and say, "Well, I don't like him, I didn't want him."
'That's what's happened with Aubameyang. Potter did not want him, but if he is now sacked and someone else comes in, they will go, "Well, I don't want that centre-half or that centre-half."
'Then it's like you are going around in circles again. That's why Potter has got to be given more time in my opinion.'
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