After a week of negotiations,
Arsenal have increased from an initial £44 million (55 million euros)
bid to meet Dortmund’s asking price but the Bundesliga club still want
to source a replacement before signing off and announcing the deal.
Olivier Giroud is among the options for Dortmund and separate talks are now ongoing with Arsenal today about a deal for the France striker. Arsenal are open to both a loan or a permanent transfer and there is also interest in Giroud from Chelsea.
A contract worth £180,000-a-week until 2021 has been offered to Aubameyang, who wants to join Arsenal where he will link up with former Dortmund colleague Henrikh Mkhitaryan following his arrival earlier this month in exchange for Alexis Sanchez.
With Arsenal also selling Theo Walcott and Giroud now likely to
leave, Arsene Wenger wanted only a player who would immediately improve
his starting team and Aubameyang has established himself as one of the
most prolific strikers in any European league.
He has scored 141 goals in four-and-a-half seasons for Dortmund.
Arsenal sent a delegation headed by chief executive Ivan Gazidis that
also included new head of recruitment Sven Mislintat and contract
negotiator Huss Fahmy to Dortmund for negotiations last week.
Where does Henrikh Mkhitaryan fit into Arsenal's grand plans?
Mislintat was also instrumental in bringing both Aubameyang and
Mkhitaryan to Dortmund and the signings will be interpreted as an
immediate sign of his impact and influence.
Arsenal have also been interested in defender Jonny Evans, but a deal
is now more likely in the summer when his contract will have only one
year remaining and West Brom will have to lower the current £20 million
asking price. The Aubameyang and Evans deals are not both considered
financially sensible this month. Arsenal are also still trying to
persuade both Mesut Ozil and Jack Wilshere to extend contracts that
expire this summer.
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