Arsenal: Man City eye Aubameyang transfer as Harry Kane alternative

The Premier League is back on our screens albeit with most of an Arsenal affiliation preferring it weren’t, and thus it can be easy to forget that the transfer window is still wide open for business.

Which, of course, also means that some utter tosh gets thrown about. Especially with under a week to go.

Arsenal have shifted their attentions to outgoings with exits on the horizon for a host of players, including Willian. The Brazilian is nearing a move to Corinthians on a free transfer, with negotiations taking place over how much of his salary will be paid off/subsidised.

Sead Kolasinac, Eddie Nketiah, Hector Bellerin and Lucas Torreira are all edging their way to a north London departure as well, while the rumour mill coughed up other names some fans weren’t expecting.

Manchester City target Arsenal captain Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang in summer transfer swoop if they fail to sign Harry Kane from Tottenham

Well documented is that most of the squad is up for sale so long as a satisfactory bid arrives. That includes Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang.

These leaks aren’t especially welcome, nor are they healthy for the fans and squad, but they’re also plainly obvious. The striker situation needs resolving.

Of course Arsenal would be open to selling Aubamayeng if someone came in with an offer to match their valuation. Pushing the boat out on his contract and getting little in return for it, the failure to build a squad catered to his abilities has left them fearing having an ageing, well-paid striker who won’t contribute.

Can he still score goals? Absolutely. He is still a natural finisher and one of the Premier League‘s finest goal scorers.

Is he going to leave? No.

That hasn’t stopped ESPN claiming that Manchester City could make a late window move for Aubameyang should their pursuit of Harry Kane fail. As it stands, it looks like it will do with Daniel Levy standing firm.

City are one of few teams who could afford to sign the 32-year-old this window and pay his wages, and if you put Aubameyang in their side he’d score a shedload. Top scorer in the league, no doubt.

He and Kane are also polar opposites. The reason why Kane is being so heavily pursued by City is that he’s perfect for their system: a No. 9 who drops deep to facilitate but also has presence and versatility of movement in the penalty box. Aubameyang doesn’t suit that mantra but he does know where the back of the net is with world-class service around him.

Is this all opportunistic rubbish? Mark Ogden is a good journalist but you can’t help but feel if City don’t get Kane they’ll just stick with the rotational No. 9 as they have been. Which is going pretty well for them at the moment.

Oh summer transfer window, never change.