by LAFC are braced for defeat in their bid to tempt Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang to the MLS.
Aubameyang’s shock omission from Chelsea’s Champions League squad last week has cast doubt over his future at the club.
And LAFC, among the US sides to express interest, had held talks with Chelsea over a move for the 33-year-old who has 18 months left on his Stamford Bridge contract.
However Sportsmail understands LAFC fear they will be unable to convince Aubameyang to make what could only be a short-term loan move to the States, having only returned to England from Barcelona last summer.
A number of Europe’s major clubs including Aubameyang’s former clubs AC Milan and Barca plus Atletico Madrid are monitoring the striker’s situation ahead of potential moves at the end of this season.
Barca and Atletico were keen in January but FFP worries prevented the former acting on it while FIFA rules denied the latter.
They stop a player appearing for three different clubs in the same season, a ruling that also scuppered interested Turkish clubs during their winter window.
However with the MLS season running at a different time to most European leagues, Aubameyang would have been free to join LAFC.
They won their first MLS Cup last season though have lost Gareth Bale and LAFC viewed Aubameyang as a potential major coup following the retirement of the former Wales and Real Madrid star.
Aubameyang has found himself behind Kai Havertz in the queue for a starting spot and seen attacking competition increase during the January window.
Versatile forward Joao Felix was among their eight signings and will be available again to face West Ham on Saturday following suspension.
Further additions are being lined up for the summer with a deal for RB Leipzig’s Christopher Nkunku already agreed and Chelsea having Napoli’s Victor Osimhen in their sights along with Manchester United
