Report: Already talk Arsenal could sign £135m star who may become ‘best player in the world’

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Arsenal could be offered a swap deal for Pierre Emerick Aubameyang by Barcelona, the Independent report.

Ousmane Dembele to Arsenal?

Barca are interested in signing the Arsenal forward, with his future now up in the air, following Mikel Arteta stripping him of the captaincy.

Aubameyang was punished for breaching Arsenal disciplinary rules, with Arteta confirming that it will be some time before he features for the club again.

Barca, who need a striker, are now keen on Aubameyang – but there are problems in the deal.

The Catalan club don’t have the money to buy the rapid striker outright, and Aubameyang is apparently not prepared to take a wage cut to leave.

That means Arsenal and Barcelona may have to be creative in the way they do a deal, and intermediaries are suggesting that a swap for Ousmane Dembele could be a possibility.

Aubameyang only earns slightly more than Dembele, who is on over £200,000-a-week at the Nou Camp.

Whether Arsenal would sanction such a transfer remains to be seen, though.

Best in the world?

There is little doubting that Dembele has the ability to be a star at the Emirates Stadium.

Just ask his new manager, Xavi, who said that Dembele has the potential to become the ‘best player in the world in his position’ soon after taking over.

With the ball at his feet the Frenchman is a real wizard, and at the age of 24 he theoretically should be a longer-term option than Aubameyang.

Lionel Messi even said that Dembele is ‘frightening’, which is not a bad endorsement of his talents!

The problem for Arsenal would come from his injury history, though.

Dembele, who once cost £135 million (BBC Sport), just cannot stay fit – and has spent more time on the treatment table than the pitch at the Nou Camp.

That injury proneness would have to be considered a major concern, especially given his sizeable salary.

And even though Arsenal are likely to be willing to listen to offers for Aubameyang now, swapping him for Dembele may not be the wisest of moves for that reason.