Arsenal are allowing striker and former club captain Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang to join Barcelona on a free transfer.
It is a development that may leave some fans of the Gunners perplexed as to why the club are allowing such a star asset to depart without a transfer fee.
The move follows reports that there had been negotiations between the two clubs to agree a loan deal for the remainder of the season, which would have seen Aubameyang return in the summer.
Following a day of farcical events in which the Gabonese striker flew into the Catalan capital in a surprise development to both clubs as no deal had been struck, it now appears that Aubameyang will get his wish on a move.
But why are the North London club allowing the striker to depart without a transfer fee?
Have Your Say! Are Arsenal making a mistake allowing Aubameyang to leave? Tell us what you think here.
Arsenal Transfer Deadline Day LIVE! Aubameyang deal agreed as Arteta finally makes signing
Exclusive : Arsenal's "special" deadline day signing labelled ‘next Robert Pires’ by Wenger
The context for the deal is that Aubameyang has not played for the Gunners since 5 December after being disciplined by boss Mikel Arteta.
The striker has been ostracised by Arteta and does not appear to have any future at the Emirates while the Spaniard remains in charge.
Aubameyang is on a weekly wage of £350k – comfortably the highest salary at Arsenal and a significant drain on the club’s resources.
The main sticking point in the negotiations over the structure of a potential loan deal to Barca had been centred on the percentage split of the player’s wages being covered by each club in any arrangement.
Arsenal’s decision to waive any transfer fee and to allow Aubameyang to depart permanently means that they will no longer pay any part of his wage packet.
The 32-year-old had 18 months remaining on his contract in North London – which had been agreed in the summer of 2020 – and that was due to cost Arsenal a whopping £25million.
So rather than subsidise the wages, Arsenal waive the fee and the Catalan club will assume full responsibility of Aubameyang’s wage packet.
While reports in Spain insist that the player is taking a significant wage cut, it is likely that the club are funding the player using other methods – potentially with loaded performance incentives or a goal bonus, but the details of any agreement are speculative at this stage.
Of course, allowing Aubameyang to depart at this late stage of the transfer window means that the club do not have time to source a replacement forward.
Alexandre Lacazette and Eddie Nketiah – both of whom are out of contract this summer - are now the only recognised senior strikers in Arsenal ’s squad, following the loan exit of Folarin Balogun to Middlesbrough earlier this month.
Balogun is one of five players to exit Arsenal’s first-team squad in January with Ainsley Maitland-Niles joining Roma on loan and Pablo Mari making a temporary move to Udinese, while Callum Chambers and Sead Kolasinac joined Aston Villa and Marseille respectively on free transfers.
Aubameyang has scored 92 goals for Arsenal in 163 appearances for the club since his January 2018 arrival from Borussia Dortmund, including seven goals in 15 outings this campaign.
