Nuri Sahin of Borussia Dortmund has reportedly implied that Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang’s teammates are resigned to the fact that he will soon depart, according to reports in the Express.
Speculation has been rife for weeks about Arsenal’s attempts to sign the striker and two bids have failed to persuade the German outfit to lessen their grip.
Arsenal and Dortmund are locked in a high profile game of cat and mouse, waiting to see who will blink first before the transfer window closes but one feels that the player’s current employers can afford to hold out until their valuation is met.
The only reason to let the Aubameyang deal go through at less than £60m would be because of the detrimental effect on the rest of the squad. It is said that some are tired of the preferential treatment the star has received and that his attitude has caused unrest, resulting in senior players calling for the club to sell him on.
Sound familiar? Well, it’s all a bit Sanchez but Arsenal would be well advised to take a risk and acquire a proven goal scorer. Although they have Lacazette, Aubameyang offers something different.
His ability to stretch and get beyond a defensive would be a perfect fit for Arsenal’s type of play and there is a suspicion that Wenger has ideas about a possible front Two next season. It’s all speculation and all very exciting but this transfer may go to the wire, if at all.
As the North London club have already discovered, there is no point in holding on to a player who wants to leave and if anything, Dortmund could take a leaf out of the North London clubs book and cut their losses for a significant amount.
Negotiations are now static. Dortmund have respectfully declined Arsenal’s interest and it’s thought that Olivier Giroud’s transfer or loan could become a factor as the Gunners negotiating team continues to explore all avenues.
Wenger may settle for a loan deal with an option to buy but will do so only under duress, although Giroud may be tempted to cut all ties as the World Cup approaches. We will see but Arsenal need to consolidate if they are to make an impression in a season that promised so much but has so far delivered so little.
