Aubameyang holding out for Arsenal move
Dortmund hoping to recruit Michy Batshuayi from Chelsea
Borussia Dortmund wantaway star striker PierreEmerick Aubameyang is reportedly close to signing for Premier League side Arsenal — with the German club in turn hoping to recruit Michy Batshuayi from Chelsea.
German daily Bild says Dortmund want €70 million (Dh315 million) for Aubameyang, the top scorer in the Bundesliga last season with 31 goals.
Bild says Aubameyang’s father and agent Pierre is in London discussing a possible transfer with Arsenal with the Gunners reportedly considering selling Chile striker Alexis Sanchez to Manchester United.
Bild also claim Dortmund are closely monitoring Belgian forward Batshuayi, who has failed to impress Antonio Conte at Chelsea, starting just two of his 11 Premier League appearances this season.
Aubameyang seems determined to force a move from Bundesliga side Dortmund.
He was dropped for Sunday’s goalless draw at home to Wolfsburg after failing to attend a team meeting — the third time he has been disciplined by the club in the last two seasons.
“I don’t know what is going through his head. I don’t know him any more,” said Dortmund’s clearly exasperated director of sport Michael Zorc.
“He used to be always professional, I have never experienced such behaviour before and it cannot go on like this — it’s intolerable.”
The Gabon hotshot has scored 21 goals in 23 games in all competitions this season, but Dortmund’s head coach Peter Stoeger, who stepped in last December after Peter Bosz was sacked, has said Aubameyang is currently a disruptive influence in the squad.
It remains to be seen whether Stoeger will select Aubameyang for tomorrow’s Bundesliga match away to Hertha Berlin.
“Disappointment is the wrong expression, rather incomprehension, because I cannot really understand his behaviour, but I’m not the only one,” Stoeger told Sport Bild.