According to ESPN’s Julien Laurens, as cited by The Sun, Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang’s potential move to FC Barcelona could be jeopardised this summer. The Spanish giants have reportedly shifted their attention towards Neymar and Lautaro Martinez, leaving the Arsenal star with no choice but to remain at Emirates next season. However, Inter Milan are also interested in his services.
Can Arsenal keep hold of Aubameyang?
Aubameyang is among the few Arsenal players facing an uncertain future at the club. But unlike his teammates, the Gabonese international is likely to leave Emirates because of his immense success in the Premier League.
At the moment, Aubameyang is regarded as one of the most lethal strikers in world football. Since arriving at Arsenal in January 2018, he has already netted as many as 61 goals in less than 100 competitive games for the club. This is truly an extraordinary statistic, making him a viable target for FC Barcelona or any other top clubs across Europe.
Realistically, Aubameyang does deserve to play in the UEFA Champions League regularly – something he’ll find difficult to find at Arsenal, making the job much harder for the Gunners to keep hold of their star player.
Why Arsenal must meet Aubameyang’s terms
Even though Aubameyang will be keen to secure regular gametime at the highest level of football, Arsenal must try and convince the striker to prolong his stay at the Emirates.
One potential option is to meet his financial demands. It is believed that the ex-Borussia Dortmund star wants a new contract extension worth £300k a week. The Gunners have appeared reluctant in meeting these terms, but in reality, it could be a feasible one for them if they manage to get rid of Mesut Ozil.
The German playmaker earns a whopping £350k a week at Arsenal. But, he has done very little to justify the stupendously high wages. Therefore, offloading him in the summer transfer window could allow the club to easily increase Aubameyang’s wages.
Can Arsenal replace Aubameyang?
In case of the potential departure of Aubameyang in the summer, Arsenal could find it difficult to replace him next season. It is primarily since Alexandre Lacazette hasn’t been able to make himself a reliable option going forward. The Frenchman has shown incredible work-ethic but has often missed clear cut scoring opportunities.
Arsenal are reportedly eyeing a move for Donyell Malen, in case Aubameyang leaves in the summer. But, the Dutchman will be a risky target for Mikel Arteta, given his lack of experience at the highest level of football.
Hence, the priority for Arsenal should be to extend Aubameyang’s contract before the end of the ongoing campaign. His prolonged stay at the Emirates could go a long way in helping Arteta usher in a new era at the club next season.
