Arsenal
Arsenal Told They Can Sign 21-Goal Forward In £61m Deal As Wenger Confirms Interest
Borussia Dortmund will sell Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang if Arsenal meet their £61m asking price and Arsene Wenger has confirmed his interest in the striker
The January transfer window is in full swing so clubs are working hard trying to strengthen their squads for the second half of the season and put deals in place for the summer. Today, the latest on Arsenal’s pursuit of Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang…
Borussia Dortmund will sell Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang if Arsenal meet their £61m asking price and Arsene Wenger has all-but confirmed his interest in the striker, according to the Mirror.
Aubameyang has been strongly linked with a move to the Emirates this month as Wenger looks to bring in a top class replacement for Alexis Sanchez – who’s on the verge of joining Man Utd.
The Gabon international’s future at Dortmund was cast in serious doubt after he was axed from the squad for their clash with Wolfsburg after failing to report for a pre-match team meeting.
The Mirror claim Aubameyang is determined to leave the Westfalenstadion after he was publicly criticised by manager Peter Stoger and general manager Michael Zorc following heated discussions with the clubs hierarchy.
The 28-year-old’s latest disciplinary issue led to him being slapped with his third internal suspension in just 15 months but when asked if Aubameyang would be a good fit in the Arsenal dressing room, Wenger suggested he could in fact be a positive influence:
“Yes, a character can be very positive or very negative.” Wenger is quoted as saying by the Mirror
“Overall you look at achievement over career and if he has done well the character has been used in a positive way.”
The Mirror claim that Aubameyang wants to join Arsenal and has already agreed personal terms after his father – and agent – travelled to London this week to thrash out an agreement.
Arsenal have reportedly been looking to seal a £53m deal but the Mirror cite a report from Kicker that claims Dortmund will only sell if the Gunners meet their £61m valuation.
We’ll have to wait and see whether we agree to meet that price-tag but Wenger all-but confirmed his interest in signing the pacey striker at his press conference this morning.
When asked about signing Aubameyang, Wenger is quoted as saying by the Mirror:
“This kind of thing is better when it is secret. You announce it when it is over the line. Nothing else is close.”
Even if Arsenal agree to match Dortmund asking price the Bundesliga club still need to find a replacement with Chelsea’s Michy Batshuayi a reported target while a swap deal involving Olivier Giroud has also been mooted.
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However, any proposed deal still looks a long way off as the Mirror claim Aubameyang has been included in Dortmund’s squad for tomorrow night’s clash with Hertha BSC and coach Stoger insists the player is available for selection.
We’ll have to wait and see how things develop but I’d love to see Aubameyang arrive this month as he’s a prolific striker who’s already netted 21 goals this season and we could certainly do with that kind of firepower in the team right now.
