Manchester United are reportedly set to rival Paris Saint-Germain in pursuit of Borussia Dortmund striker Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang.
French publication L’Equipe have reported that Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang is the subject of interest of Manchester United. The Premier League club have joined PSG in the race to sign the Gabonese striker from Borussia Dortmund in the summer transfer window.
Aubameyang has evolved into one of the most prolific strikers in the world ever since moving to Dortmund from Saint-Etienne in 2013. Now set to end his fourth season with the club, the striker is an integral component in Thomas Tuchel’s first-team at the Westfalenstadion.
The last two seasons have personally been the most productive for Aubameyang, as he has consistently gone toe-to-toe with Robert Lewandowski to top the goalscoring charts in the Bundesliga. This season, the Gabonese is just a goal behind his rival, having scored 29 goals in 31 German top flight games.
#ManchesterUnited have reportedly made it clear they are interested in signing #BorussiaDortmund star Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang.(L’Equipe) pic.twitter.com/HXA9WKTYPc
— Transfer News (@_FutbolTransfer) May 16, 2017
Aubameyang has also provided five assists in addition to scoring eight further goals in other competitions. As the striker continues to go from strength to strength, he is starting to attract the attention of some of the best clubs across Europe.
In fact, the likes of Real Madrid, Barcelona, Manchester City, Arsenal and Liverpool have all been previously linked with the player. However, Manchester United and PSG are now believed to be two of the clubs vying for the player’s signature.
PSG were recently reported to have been interested in signing Aubammeyang, with the club’s sporting director, Patrick Kluivert reportedly meeting with the player to offer him a three-year deal.
With reports suggesting that Edinson Cavani’s future at Parc des Princes is uncertain, Aubameyang would make for a top class replacement to lead the club’s attack. A potential partnership with Angel Di Maria and Julian Draxler has all the ingredients to become one of the most fearsome attacking trios in Europe.
However, the French champions face tough competition for Aubameyang in the form of Manchester United, who are ready to splash the cash to land him in the summer. Zlatan Ibrahimovic has, in all likelihood, played his last game for the English club after suffering from a gruesome knee injury.
Jose Mourinho now has just Marcus Rashford as his only viable option to lead his side’s attack. But, with Manchester United set to compete on four fronts again next season, the Portuguese manager cannot go into the campaign with just one recognised option, which makes the addition of a quality striker even more imperative.
His search has now led him to Aubameyang, and Manchester United have, as per the report, told “intermediaries” of their interest in the player. At 27, the player would also provide his best years to either side, should he join them in the summer.
A potential stumbling block that both the clubs face in their pursuit of Aubameyang, though, is Borussia Dortmund’s Chief Executive Hans-Joachim Watze’s recent comments, as he claimed that the striker would only consider offers from Real Madrid or Barcelona.
It now remains to be seen if Aubameyang entertains the interest from PSG and Manchester United, as both clubs look set to enter the market for a striker in the summer.
