Arsenal receive Aubameyang transfer approach from Barcelona & Juventus

With the January transfer window nearing its climax there is plenty of anticipation around what may happen at Arsenal in the closing days.

As of yet the club have only sanctioned departures, with Calum Chambers’ recent move to Aston Villa the fifth player in the senior squad to have either left on loan or permanently.

Among the other names on the list of potential departures is Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, who has yet to kick a ball for the club since December 6, having been stripped of the captaincy in what a statement described as “his latest disciplinary breach”.

There has been interest in the 32-year-old from Al Hilal and Al Nassr, two options that would appeal greatly to Arsenal given their willingness to cover his salary and purchase him outright in the summer, but less so Aubameyang who wants to continue playing at the highest level in Europe.

Arsenal receive Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang transfer offers from Barcelona & Juventus with European pair eyeing loan deal in January

As per David Ornstein, he has been granted two such possibilities.

The Gunners have received official approaches from Barcelona and Juventus to sign the striker. with these offers being loan deals until the end of the season. Two of the biggest clubs in Europe are hoping to land his signature before the window, albeit on a temporary basis, with Arsenal yet to decide on the Gabonese’s future.

Key in discussions will be what amount of Aubameyang’s salary either side will be willing to pay. His astronomical £350k-per-week wages are highly unlikely to be covered in full by either interested party, while Arsenal could also try and push for a deal beyond a simple loan move.

As reported elsewhere, Alvaro Morata will be key in either case. The Spaniard wants to join Barcelona from Atletico Madrid this winter, with the holding La Liga champions unwilling to agree to the loan move Barcelona are after.

Where it gets interesting is that Morata is currently on loan in Turin, and I Bianconeri have just signed Dusan Vlahovic on a long-term contract. Juventus’ ideal plan is to utilise Aubameyang with Paulo Dybala and Vlahovic.

This is the genuine interest Arsenal were hoping for, with neither club deterred by Aubameyang’s disciplinary issues, leaving the big question to be whether Edu can co can strike a financially beneficial deal for the club, and if they can secure a replacement before the deadline.

Equally, having not traveled with the squad to Dubai, Aubameyang’s chances of being reintegrated grow slimmer by the day. A lot of water has passed under the bridge since, so even if he were to stay another perilous Mesut Ozil-esque scenario could be on the cards.