Arsenal: 6 transfer destinations for Aubameyang in January

Is there a way back for Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang at Arsenal? A brave person would say yes, just as a brave person would say no. It’s a situation that does nobody any favours.

Being left out of the squad that lost to Manchester City on New Year’s Day meant that the former captain has now been unavailable for selection for six matches – disciplinary action unlike any others.

Were the punishment to have only lasted a match or two then the situation would be perceived differently. For context, when the same situation befell Granit Xhaka in 2019, he was back in the team just three league matches later against Norwich, albeit under a different manager.

The way back for Aubameyang looks perilous, and the situation isn’t helped by the marked improvement in team performances since his omission. In the five matches directly after he was dropped Arsenal scored 19 goals. The performance against Man City, while a defeat, was the best Arsenal display for many years.

Arsenal: 6 potential transfer destinations for Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang in January window as Mikel Arteta eyes sale of former captain

With the way Arsenal are playing and the severity of Aubameyang’s punishment, surely he has to be heading for the exit door, right?

If only it were that simple.

The rather unfortunately hefty salary he finds himself on and the general lack of money for clubs across the continent make this an incredibly tough deal to pull off. Arsenal will be yearning for it, mind you.

Casting a glance over at the rest of Europe, in terms of the sides capable of bringing Aubameyang on board there are very few who are financially capable. Nonetheless, a few names have been banded about alongside the few who actually can cough up the money.

Can anyone actually sign him?

1. AC Milan & Inter

Two in one.

When Aubameyang first became a potential departee this season it was these two clubs that emerged as destinations for the striker, one of whom he started his senior career out with.

Ignoring financials for one minute, AC Milan have two ageing strikers on their books already in Olivier Giroud and Zlatan Ibrahimovic, neither who will be hanging around for too much longer at 35 and 40 years old respectively. Never rule it out, mind you.

Then in Inter’s case they lost Romelu Lukaku and replaced him with Edin Dzeko, who at 35 years old is no spring chicken either. While he’s doing a fine job, he’s not a long-term solution for them. Well, then again, nor is Aubameyang. However, on the point of being useful for the Milan clubs, there is room for him in their squads despite mid-season making it difficult to see who he’d usurp in either side.

Financially, Inter sold two of their best players in the summer on owner Suning’s command, and they’re still actively looking for someone to buy the club. They are not in a position to be spending lavishly on wages or transfer fees.

Milan, meanwhile, are not swimming in money either but aren’t afraid to pay big wages to certain individuals. Zlatan, for example, is one £175k-per-week as the club’s top earner. If they were to sign Aubameyang, possibly on loan, there would need to be some form of wage split.

Inter likelihood: 1/10
AC Milan likelihood: 2/10

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