Arsenal hitman Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang remains unwanted in North London, it would seem.
The Gunners marksman has been exiled from senior duties since early December following a disciplinary issue which saw him stripped of the captaincy.
And with Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta refusing to take him on the warm weather training camp to Dubai, it’s safe to say that the Spaniard won’t be forgiving Aubameyang.
According to a report from Sport in Spain on Saturday, a late transfer to Barcelona remains a possibility.
However, the report also reveals that the Catalan giants must offload Ousmane Dembele first and, with that in mind, a swap deal by Edu might potentially suit both parties.
Not a striker
Okay so Arsenal need a striker and Dembele is not a number nine.
He is, however, a frightening wide player who cost the Liga club £130 million in 2017 and with Nicholas Pepe looking like he’s never going to succeed at the Emirates Stadium, to the point where he’s probably leaving this summer, Dembele could be a stunning replacement.
Let’s face it, Edu isn’t going to find the sort of goalscorer that Arsenal need between now and Monday’s deadline, with Dusan Vlahovic joining Juventus and Alexander Isak a pie in the sky.
Strategically it makes a lot more sense to continue with Alexandre Lacazette up front and even experiment with Gabriel Martinelli – who played through the middle under Unai Emery – rather than settle for a second-rate marksman, just for the sake of signing one.
If Martinelli is used as a number nine then that, in turn, frees up a spot on the wing for Dembele.
The France international has been around for years but it’s worth pointing out that he’s still only 24 and is still nowhere near the peak of his career, which is a frightening prospect.
If Arsenal don’t plan on using Aubameyang between now and the summer anyway, why not sever ties completely this month in exchange for a £130 million attacker?
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