Dortmund confirm Arsenal bid for Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang

Posted Monday, January 22, 2018 by squawka.com

Borussia Dortmund CEO Hans-Joachim Watzke has confirmed for the first time that Arsenal have made a bid for their striker Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang.

Despite BVB recently denying that there was any contact with Arsenal regarding with the sale of Aubameyang to the Gunners, their club's CEO has now stated that Arsene Wenger's side have launched their first bid.

The club's sporting director Michael Zorc previously criticised Arsenal and Wenger for speaking openly about a player under contract with another team.

Aubameyang was left out of the BVB squad that traveled to Hertha Berlin on Friday due to attitude concerns. The Gabon international spent his night off playing five-a-side football wearing a shirt with the name of Ousmane Dembele, who left Dortmund for Barcelona last summer, on the back.

The Gunners would be looking for an immediate replacement for the outgoing Alexis Sanchez to Manchester United, with the BVB striker - who finished last season as the Bundesliga's top-scorer - a first-choice replacement.

Dortmund CEO Hans-Joachim Watzke told Ruhr Nachrichten: "I can confirm that there has been a first request from Arsenal for Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, but we are not commenting on the sums that have been reported in England."

It had been reported the opening bid from Arsenal is worth €50m (around £44m).

The 28-year-old has been in fine form for BVB this season, scoring 13 Bundesliga goals - just one short of leading goalscorer Robert Lewandowski - and creating three assists and 15 chances.

Arsenal, who beat Crystal Palace 4-1 on Saturday, are also reportedly looking to soften the blow of losing star player Sanchez with Henrikh Mkhitaryan going the other direction from Manchester United to the Emirates.