Arsenal will manage to save over £25million if Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang seals a move to Barcelona before tonight's transfer deadline.
Aubameyang was stripped of his captaincy duties last month following a disciplinary breach and Mikel Arteta has refused to include him in a single matchday squad since.
football.london revealed over the festive period that the Gunners were open to offers for the Gabon international and Saudi side Al-Nassr tried to tempt him away from the Emirates Stadium but the player is keen to continue to play in Europe instead.
Italian giants Juventus were touted as a potential destination, as were Catalan outfit Barcelona, with the 32-year-old set to have a medical this evening ahead of a move to the Nou Camp, football.london understands.
The move appeared unlikely earlier in the day when the two clubs struggled to find an agreement but now The Athletic have claimed that he will join the Blaugrana on a free transfer despite having just under 18 months left on his contract in north London.
The former Borussia Dortmund hitman agreed a new deal with the Gunners back in September 2020, pocketing £350,000 per week after helping fire Mikel Arteta's side to FA Cup glory one month prior.
With Aubameyang still having 73 weeks left on his deal at Arsenal, the club will be saving a whopping £25.6million in wages if he is able to finalise a move to the Catalan club before the window slams shut.
Speaking after he agreed his huge new deal with the Gunners, the Gabon frontman said: “Signing for this special club was never in doubt.
“It’s thanks to our fans, my teammates, my family and everybody at this club that I feel like I belong here.
"We can achieve big things together. We have something exciting here and I believe the best is to come for Arsenal.”
