Arsenal have set their sights on Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang after Alexis Sanchez looks destined to move in January, with Manchester City his likeliest destination.
Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger has drawn up a list of potential replacements for the Chilean and Aubameyang tops the list, according to The Sun. The Gabonese has been in superb form this season and has netted 21 times in 23 games this season for Borussia Dortmund.
With Dortmund already out of Champions League and with 13 points separating them from the league leaders Bayern Munich, the Gabonese International believes his future lies away from Westfalenstadion.
24 – @Aubameyang7 (@BVB) was involved in 24 goals (21 goals, 3 assists) in all comps 2017-18, the most of all #Bundesliga players. Precious. #OptAdvent pic.twitter.com/TQUC7wvf8F
— OptaFranz (@OptaFranz) December 24, 2017
With their talisman Alexis Sanchez’s contract up next summer, Arsenal are eyeing a host of forwards to replace the former Barcelona player, and few would argue there’s as good a player in market as Aubameyang right now. Signed from Saint-Etienne in summer of 2013, Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang quickly established himself as one of the best poachers in the game. With blistering pace, combined with deadly finishing, Aubameyang made it to record books soon.
Aubameyang became the second highest scorer in Bundesliga when he scored 25 goals in 2015-16 season and made the title his own by scoring a mammoth 31 goals in Bundesliga the next season, which earned him a spot in Bundesliga team of the season.
This season has seen Aubameyang cutting out a frustrated figure at the Westfalenstadion. The lanky forward was suspended for a match for disciplinary reasons by the club with the Borussia Dortmund hierarchy apparently unhappy with his professionalism or lack thereof.
Aubameyang was also criticised by manager Peter Bosz after he was handed a red card in Borussia’s match against Schalke – a game in which Schalke would come from 4 goals behind to level the scores. A host of clubs are interested in the 28-year-old, who was strongly linked to Milan in the summer, while he has always desired a move to Madrid.
On the other hand, Alexis Sanchez was signed by Arsenal in the summer of 2014 from Barcelona, in a deal worth £31.7 million. The Chilean scored 30 times for the Gunners last season. However with Arsenal failing to reach Champions League this season, coupled with them falling apart again in top 4 race, Sanchez has made his mind to leave for a top European club to have a shot at the prestigious UCL trophy.
And there is no shortage of suitors with Manchester City, PSG and Chelsea vulturing around.
Contracted until 2021 with Dortmund, a fee around £50 million would be enough to entice the Bundesliga club. Meanwhile selling Sanchez this winter could pocket Arsenal a similar amount of money, and it seems it would be a deal perfect for all the parties involved.
Despite Wenger denying an interest in Aubameyang, not many prospects come close to having the ability to replace Alexis Sanchez.
