Arsenal
BBC Journalist Offers Huge Update On Aubameyang-To-Arsenal, Giroud-To-Chelsea Saga
David Ornstein has offered an update on Arsenal’s move for Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang and it seems Olivier Giroud’s switch to Chelsea is holding up the deal.
The January transfer window is coming to a close 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 Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang and Olivier Giroud…
BBC journalist David Ornstein has offered a huge update on Arsenal’s move for Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang and it seems Olivier Giroud’s proposed switch to Chelsea is holding up the deal.
Arsenal have been locked in negotiations with Borussia Dortmund trying to secure a deal for Aubameyang for over a week after identifying him as the man they want to replace Alexis Sanchez.
The north Londoners finally reached an agreement over the weekend with Kicker reporting that a deal worth around £55m had been settled between the two clubs while Aubameyang has also agreed personal terms with Arsenal.
However, the transfer was dependent on Dortmund finding a replacement before they’d release the Gabon international and talks have been held regarding Giroud moving in the opposite direction.
However, Ornstein claims that Chelsea have also made a move to sign Giroud and the Frenchman favours a switch to Stamford Bridge as he and his family want to remain in London.
The BBC reporter says Dortmund then switched their attention to Chelsea’s Michy Batshuayi – who is available if Antonio Conte can sign a replacement [Giroud] – and the Belgian international is keen on a move to Germany.
So it was all set-up for a striker merry-go-round that would see Batshuayi join Dortmund, Giroud head to Chelsea and Aubameyang finally complete his switch to Arsenal.
However, Ornstein claims that Chelsea have baulked at Arsenal’s asking price for Giroud – which is reportedly in the region of £30m – so the Blues turned their attention to a possible swap involving Batshuayi and Tottenham’s Fernando Llorente.
But that proposed deal looks to be off before it started as Batshuayi isn’t interested in moving to Spurs to be Harry Kane’s back-up so Chelsea’s inability to find a new striker is holding everything up.
If Arsenal and Chelsea can strike a deal for Giroud then it would free Aubameyang and Batshuayi to complete their proposed moves to Arsenal and Dortmund respectively but for now the deals are in deadlock.
Ornstein tweeted:
Merry-go-round: Giroud was lined up to replace Aubameyang at Dortmund then got offer from Chelsea & was keen, so Dortmund turned to Batshuayi. But Chelsea baulked at Giroud fee so discussed Batshuayi/Llorente swap with Spurs, which nobody agreed on. Deadlock #AFC #BVB #CFC THFC pic.twitter.com/HA6ymZ6IiN
— David Ornstein (@bbcsport_david) January 29, 2018
The hopes for Arsenal fans is that Dortmund are able to find a replacement for Aubameyang elsewhere as they’re reportedly talking to several other targets but they face a nervous wait to see how things progress over the coming hours.
It’s a fascinating situation but I think Aubameyang will join Arsenal in the end as Dortmund will find a replacement somewhere even if they have to walk away from the Batshuayi deal.
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Giroud joining Chelsea would make Aubameyang-to-Arsenal happen quickly but it remains to be seen whether the north London rivals can find an agreement for the 31-year-old.