Arsenal are increasingly confident of securing the Borussia Dortmund striker Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang after holding productive talks with the Bundesliga club as they prepare for life after Alexis Sánchez.
The London club expect to lose the Chilean international this week, with Manchester United his likeliest destination ahead of Manchester City, as they edge closer to concluding a deal for the young Brazilian forward Malcom from Bordeaux for around £40m.
Yet with Theo Walcott also set to leave the Emirates Stadium this month, most likely for Everton, Arsenal have turned their attentions to adding Aubameyang to their ranks as well.
The Gabon international has been prolific in Germany, with 141 goals in 212 appearances, despite off-field issues in Dortmund, and his qualities and potential availability have been impressed on the Arsenal hierarchy by the club’s new head of recruitment, Sven Mislintat, who had been instrumental in bringing Aubameyang to the Bundesliga in 2013.
Borussia are prepared to sell the 28-year-old, who was omitted from the first-team squad for the goalless draw against Wolfsburg last weekend for disciplinary reasons after apparently missing a team meeting, but could seek as much as €60m (£53.3m) for the striker.
Negotiations over a fee are ongoing but, while Arsène Wenger may need convincing that a player who has had his issues off the pitch will truly soften the blow of Sánchez’s departure, Mislintat’s input could prove key.
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