Arsenal have days remaining of the January transfer window to complete any late business for both possible incomings and outgoings.
The Gunners have so far been frustrated in their attempts to bring in a striker with Fiorentina forward Dusan Vlahovic closing in on a move to Juventus. Arsenal have left it late in frustratingly historic fashion with criticism of Mikel Arteta and Edu increasing from the fan base.
Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang’s situation further complicates the matter. The Gabonese striker was stripped of the Arsenal captaincy in December and football.london understands that despite interest from the Middle East, the 32-year-old’s preference is to stay in Europe.
Considering the striker’s high wages, this makes a departure less likely with European clubs unable to commit to fulfilling Aubameyang’s demands without a subsidiary from Arsenal.
AC Milan are reportedly interested in taking Aubameyang off the north London side’s hands according to The Mirror.
Injuries have hit both Olivier Giroud and Zlatan Ibrahimovic leading to Stefano Pioli’s openness to the idea of strengthening with an additional forward.
Aubameyang has rarely suffered with serious and lasting injury problems and would contrast the characteristics of Milan’s existing forwards.
However, the problem preventing the move again returns to the player’s wages. Ibrahimovic is said to be on £120,000 a week and Aubameyang, without a subsidiary from Arsenal, would demand over double this figure from Milan.
The threat of upsetting the balance in wage structure at the club could be enough to put them off a deal. Meanwhile, Arsenal, if unable to shift Aubameyang, would miss out on a significant saving from the pay packet reaching above ~£4 million if paid until June.
The knock-on impact could be that Aubameyang is unable to depart between now and the close of the window and Arsenal are unable to then bring in a forward.
Arteta would likely need to have clear-the-air talks with the striker if he wants him to reintegrate. Similar to Ainsley Maitland-Niles’ conversation with the Spaniard after his deadline day social media post regarding wanting to leave.
Arsenal need goals and Aubameyang is a proven scorer despite his poor form. Should the window close and he remains exiled, the Gunners would be an Alexandre Lacazette injury away from Eddie Nketiah being the sole orthodox option.
Arteta has used Gabriel Martinelli centrally, but it is clear he is best when on the ball more and this suits a wider role rather than a shift to the middle.
There is still time to bring in a forward but the options and seconds are diminishing. Gunners supporters will hope Edu and his recruitment team can pull off a characteristically late swoop as seen in the previous two summer windows.
Although, Aubameyang’s future remains very uncertain with still no clarity on whether his future can be recovered at Arsenal or a move elsewhere will take place which is likely to impact any possible move before the deadline.
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