Wenger has second thoughts about signing Aubameyang
ARSENE WENGER is weighing up whether to splash out in excess of £50 million (RM270m) on Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang. The Arsenal boss has serious concerns about signing the temperamental Borussia Dortmund star as a replacement for Manchester United-bound Alexis Sanchez. Wenger’s fears about Aubameyang’s disciplinary issues mean he has told the German club he is only willing to pay £35 million (RM189m).
But the German club, who rate Aubameyang at £53 million (RM340m), are determined to squeeze more out of Arsenal for a player who has scored an impressive 98 goals in 126 starts.
The striker was left out of the Dortmund squad for their game against Wolfsburg on Sunday after missing a pre-match meeting.
He was also axed for Dortmund’s 2-1 defeat by Stuttgart in November, with the club citing “disciplinary reasons” for his omission.
He was also dropped for an unauthorised trip to Milan in 2016.
But it his lethal touch in front of goal that may yet persuade Wenger to up the ante.
Aubameyang has found the net 21 times in 23 appearances this season and topped the goalscoring table in the Bundesliga last season.
His record in Europe also shows he is a top-quality striker with 15 goals in 32 Champions League games and 11 in 14 in the Europa League.
Aubameyang’s former teammate Henrikh Mkhitaryan already looks to be heading to the Emirates as part of the deal with Manchester United to sign Sanchez.
Arsenal’s new head of recruiting Sven Mislintat helped sign both for Dortmund and may be able to persuade Wenger to take a risk and up his bid for Aubameyang.
The Gunners are also confident of wrapping up a deal for Bordeaux’s £45 million (RM243m) Brazilian winger Malcom.
Meanwhile, Dan Gosling says Bournemouth knew Arsenal were there for the taking before beating them 2-1 on Sunday.
Sanchez and Mesut Ozil both missed the game after being left out of the squad.
And Cherries midfielder Gosling said: “They have got a few problems off the field with players leaving and not sure they want to be there.
“That probably dictates what they are getting on the pitch.
“Sanchez and Ozil make a difference to their squad and they had a few defenders missing and we played on that.” – Daily Star