Dortmund and Arsenal agree £60m deal for Aubameyang

● Striker all set to join Gunners as soon as Bundesliga club find a replacement

SWANSEA

V ARSENAL

An agreement has been reached between Arsenal and Borussia Dortmund for Pierre-emerick Aubameyang.

It is understood that the £60 million deal will be completed as soon as the Bundesliga side sign a replacement for the 28-year-old.

Aubameyang has scored 85 goals since the start of the 2014-15 season.

Meanwhile Henrikh Mkhitaryan is set to make his Arsenal debut in tonight’s Premier League clash at Swansea, the Armenia international having joined from Manchester United in exchange for Alexis Sanchez last week.

The Gunners are also boosted by the return of Olivier Giroud following a hamstring injury.

Swansea boss Carlos Carvalhal says he understands the fans’ anxiety that his Premier League strugglers have yet to make a move in the January transfer window.

Swansea prop up the Premier League table and with the window set to close just over 24 hours later, the south Wales club have yet to land a signing that could bolster their survival bid, despite being linked with players such as Atletico Madrid’s Nicolas Gaitan and Liverpool midfielder Lazar Markovic.

“I absolutely understand,” Carvalhal said. “It is clear to me, the chairman and board that the window opens and we all want to achieve new players. I would have wanted to be more strong against Liverpool or other teams, of course I would.

“But the reality is the market is not easy, it is not easy to negotiate with players, and as a leader I must understand and fight with my players. We believe in these players, they are achieving points, so this means we can continue to fight and try and get out of this situation.

“It is not the case that I don’t think we need players or want players. I want to make this very clear.

“I want players, but if I don’t get players, I still believe we will stay up. It will be harder, but let’s see. We have not brought in any players, but we have lost just once in seven games and against good teams.”

Carvalhal straight-batted all questions at his pre-match press conference about potential arrivals or departures, and would not even discuss Roque Mesa’s future, despite

0 Pierre-emerick Aubameyang has scored 85 goals for Borussia Dortmund in two-and-a-half seasons. him looking set to join Sevilla on loan and recently being pictured on social media in Spain.

Asked about a potential Mesa exit, Carvalhal added: “I don’t know. It is not official, so I can only talk about official things. It is official he is not here, but it is not official that he is leaving. I am not going to talk or comment on not official things.”

Carvalhal also admitted he is not a fan of the transfer window. “If I could decide, I would close the window at the beginning of the season – on the Friday before the first game. No transfers,” he said. “Maybe it is my romantic view, but I like to prepare for a season, put your squad and the relations together and try and do one complete season. I prefer this, but football is a business. It is not about football, it is about business, and that is the reality.”

Swansea will be without midfielder Renato Sanches for Arsenal’s visit after he suffered a hamstring injury during Saturday’s FA Cup draw with Notts County. 0 Carlos Carvalhal is not a fan of the transfer window.