A move for Aubameyang, who is out of favour at Arsenal and has seen his relationship with coach Mikel Arteta completely breakdown in recent weeks.
Barca want to sign Auba
After Barcelona complete their move for Adama Traore, attention will then turn to signing a centre forward. Still, given their number one target, Alvaro Morata looks unattainable, Xavi and co. have turned their attention to Arsenal’s Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang. The deal to sign Morata, who is currently on loan at Juventus from Atletico Madrid, has hit some difficulties. The Los Colchoneros will only let the player leave on a permanent deal and not another loan, especially to a direct LaLiga rival. Thus, a move for Aubameyang, who is out of favour at Arsenal and has seen his relationship with coach Mikel Arteta completely breakdown in recent weeks. And given there are just three days to go in the transfer window, completing a deal for Aubameyang is a much easier task given both parties – player and club – are seeking other options.
The club are eyeing a loan move until the end of the current campaign
Aubameyang turns 33 years old in June, and despite that, he is a valued option for at least the next six months. Barcelona are eyeing a loan move until the end of the current campaign. That said, any transfer is dependent on Barcelona reducing their wage bill to accommodate the Gabonese striker’s salary, given now there is no room for manoeuvre. Juventus were also eyeing a move for Aubameyang, but after completing a 75 million euro move for Fiorentina’s Dusan Vlahovic, the Bianconeri’s interest has waned. The key to Barcelona’s transfer activity is help by Ousmane Dembele. The club are waiting to resolve the future of the forward and want to move him on to register other players. At the moment, they have not received a response from the player’s agents after the meetings that took place last Tuesday and Wednesday with Barcelona officials.
During those meetings, it was made to clear to Dembele that the best option for him was to find a new club by the end of the January transfer window. For Barcelona coach Xavi, the arrival of a striker is fundamental, especially given Sergio Aguero’s retirement and Ansu Fati’s injury. Xavi wants a proven goalscorer, and Aubameyang could be the solution.