Newcastle United have been warned over shelling a huge sum on signing former Arsenal captain Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang in January by Kevin Phillips.
Speaking to Football Insider, former Sunderland striker Kevin Phillips has urged Newcastle United to think carefully before deciding to splash the cash to sign Arsenal striker Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang in the January transfer window.
Aubameyang has fallen out of favour at Arsenal and has been stripped of the captaincy duties by manager Mikel Arteta due to a disciplinary breach. He has been axed from the matchday squad by the Gunners boss for a series of matches now, sparking speculations over his immediate future at the Emirates Stadium.
Newcastle United have emerged as a prospective suitor for the Gabonese international as they look to make one or two big signings in order to survive the threat of relegation from the Premier League.
However, the Magpies have been warned against splashing the big bucks to sign Aubameyang by Phillips, who claims that his age should be a cause of concern while his recent decline in form and attitude problems should also be considered by the Tynesiders before they decide to launch a move.
“I wouldn’t go there. If you look at his age as well, he’s going to command a lot of money. I would worry if I was a Newcastle. At the end of the day, he’s a top player. But would he really come with that attitude to put in a shift, a fight to try and help Newcastle stay in the league?,” Phillips said.
“I’d be very, very careful. You don’t know which Aubameyang is going to turn up. If you knew you were getting the Aubameyang we’ve seen in the past, go for it. I just think at this stage in his career, I’d be very cautious.”
Aubameyang enjoyed a sub-par 2020/21 campaign after penning a bumper contract with Arsenal. Before his exile this term, the 32-year-old was not pulling up any trees either, having scored just four goals in 14 Premier League outings.
With Callum Wilson’s fitness a major concern, Newcastle United do need a new goalscorer in their ranks if they are to push for survival. However, Aubameyang might not be the safest option for them to consider at the moment.
