The transfer deal for Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang has stalled with Borussia Dortmund reportedly rejecting a bid of over £50m from Arsenal. Arsene Wenger is still hopeful of landing the wantaway striker and might just be preparing a second bid.
Aubameyang’s terms with BVB has soured over the past couple of weeks with the striker failing to show up to a team meeting before the club’s 0-0 draw against Wolfsburg last Sunday. He was also previously punished for a similar situation and was left out of the squad against Cfb Stuttgart in November. This is not the first time the Gabon international has had to face disciplinary consequences and has been dubbed by club director, Michael Zorc to be a problem punctuality wise.
Obviously, this does not sit well with the German outfit who has been credited with maintaining a close relationship with their players be it under Jurgen Klopp, Thomas Tuchel or Peter Stoger. Dortmund sporting director Michael Zorc was quoted, “At some point, you can’t tolerate it [lack of discipline from Aubameyang] anymore. I don’t know what’s going on inside his head. We had a very contentious discussion today. We’re not used to this behaviour from him. It can’t go on like this.”
It feels now as if Aubameyang’s future at the club is untenable. The club would have been happy to trade him under more amicable circumstances in the summer but the right buyer was hard to find. Chinese Super League side, Guangzhou Evergrande was interested in the 28-year-old but could not process the transfer due to restrictions from the Government. The club’s hands were tied over tax regulations and a limit on buying high-profile foreigners.
Arsenal are more than eager to give the former Saint-Etienne forward an escape to the Premier League, but it seems like the move will only be sanctioned if the Gunners are prepared to break their own transfer record and make a higher bid. With Henrikh Mkhitaryan arriving on a swap deal, Sanchez’s departure will have to fill in with another European superstar.
Aubameyang possesses the pace and scoring ability to pair up with Alexandre Lacazette and Mesut Ozil on the final third and push the team to the final of the Europa league. Even with a 21 goal-tally so far this season, he is clearly unsettled at Westfalenstadion and is waiting for a club swoop him up on a lucrative deal. Arsene Wenger should not waste any time in reverting back with a beefed-up bid for a player who can get you upwards of 25 goals a season.
