Barcelona are showing an increasing interest in signing Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang in the final days of the transfer window, but want Arsenal to continue paying some of his salary.
That’s according to TuttoMercatoWEB, who report the Blaugrana are hot on the Gabon ace in their search for attacking reinforcements. Xavi Hernandez is keen to improve his forward options before Monday’s deadline, but has hit a roadblock to sign Juventus’ Alvaro Morata.
Negotiations over Morata moving to the Camp Nou have stalled, to leave the La Liga giants seeking late alternative targets. Aubameyang is one, but Barcelona would ask that Arsenal continue paying a percentage of his wage during a loan transfer.
Barcelona also do not intend to pay Arsenal a loan fee to sign Aubameyang in a temporary transfer. TMW report the Gunners are open to those terms, and would cover a substantial chunk of the 32-year-old’s salary. It is not claimed if the move would feature a buy clause.
Arsenal are looking to move Aubameyang on in the final days of the window as he is firmly outside of Mikel Arteta’s plans. The Emirates Stadium manager does not view the £350k-a-week forward as part of his project. So, he may be the one that Barcelona are looking for.
Barcelona could satisfy Aubameyang and Arsenal with transfer interest
Aubameyang has not featured for Arsenal since December 6, preceding Arteta stripping the potential Barcelona transfer target of the captaincy. The Gunners are also looking to offload the forward, with The Athletic noting he has an offer from Al Hilal and interest in Europe.
But the striker would prefer to stay in Europe than to move to Saudi Arabia in January. So, Barcelona could satisfy both Aubameyang and Arsenal, if the Blaugrana accept a purchase clause in a loan transfer. Al Hilal offered an option to buy and to cover his wage in full.
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