Struggling Arsenal are reportedly now open to offers for captain Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang as they plan for a mass exodus before the end of the transfer window.
Aubameyang only signed a new contract with Arsenal in September 2020.
But according to The Telegraph, the Gabon international – who tested positive for coronavirus before the opening game of the season and has not featured so far as a result – is now considered to be one of 10 players Arsenal are interested in receiving bids for.
The rest of the potential departures are Bernd Leno, Hector Bellerin, Sead Kolasinac, Ainsley Maitland-Niles, Lucas Torreira, Willian, Reiss Nelson, Eddie Nketiah and Alexandre Lacazette.
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However, unlike some of the fringe players looking to be sold over the next week or so, Aubameyang’s extortionate wages could prevent him from securing a move.
The 32-year-old earns around £250,000 a week, so there are only a select number of clubs who would be able to take him on.
It was reported last week that Barcelona were eyeing a swap deal for Aubameyang, with ex-Liverpool star Philippe Coutinho heading the other way.
Arsenal are hoping to recoup some of the money they have invested this summer, with Arteta’s side currently top of the Premier League’s spending charts.
The club have already spent £129million on Nuno Tavares, Albert Sambi Lokongo, Ben White, Martin Odegaard and Aaron Ramsdale.
And Arteta will be extremely keen to bed those new players in as soon as possible following the worst start to a domestic campaign in their 118-year history.
The Gunners lost 2-0 to newly promoted Brentford on the opening day of the season.
And they followed that up with a dismal 2-0 home defeat to London rivals Chelsea on Sunday.
4 Comments
I dont think arsenal will agree to sell their captain, this is just a rumor
Arsenal should be willing to listen to offer for Arteta as well. He has destroyed the confidence of the Senior player.
EXTORTIONATE WAGES……hehehehehe, nice use of words.
250k a week! That’s roughly a cool million a month. Not Naira, not even dollars. Pounds sterling. Na original extortion.
Aubameyang is a terrific player. But this amount is too much. For it to be justified, his stats need to be in the same ballpark as guys like Messi, Ronaldo, Haaland, Mbappe, etc.
They might be considering offloading him just to free up more funds. But if he and Lacazette exit the club, who will fill the gap? Martinelli? Balogun? These are small boys, talented, but too young to shoulder the striking responsibility for such a big club. Arsenal will have to go into the market again to look for Aubameyang’s replacement. Let’s hope they agree to more reasonable wage terms this time. For their own good.
Perhaps they can consider someone like Onuachu. He will cost a lot less, but will deliver if given the needed service.
The absence of a reliable hitman has been Arsenal’s problem in the recent past. They create lots of chances, but convert too few.
Onuachu could be a delightful solution to that problem.
Arteta, shine your eyes.
Auba is not going anywhere he is here to stay, maybe he might even retire at arsenal