AUBA & OUT? Barcelona and Juventus offer to take exiled Aubameyang off Arsenal’s hands until end of season on loan transfer
BARCELONA and Juventus have both made loan transfer offers for Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, according to reports.
Posted Saturday, January 29, 2022 by Thesun.co.uk
The former Arsenal captain has been exiled by Mikel Arteta following his latest disciplinary issue, returning late visiting his mother in France, but that has not put off the two giant clubs.
Pierre-Emerick Aubemeyang has had loan offers from Barcelona and Juventus Credit: Getty
His last appearance was as a late substitute at Everton on December 6.
After returning from the Africa Cup of Nations early after a heart scare, Aubameyang has trained alone - but now may have got a lifeline.
According to The Athletic, the two European powerhouses have submitted formal approaches to sign the 32-year-old until the end of the season.
The January transfer window closes for Barca in Spain at 11pm UK time on Monday night.
For Juve in Italy, it is four hours earlier at 7pm UK time.
Aubameyang looks set to remain frozen out in North London as they look to ship him out with 18 months left to run on his current contract - and Arsenal must decide if his relationship with Arteta is beyond repair.
There was a loan bid from Saudi Arabian rivals Al Nassr and Al Hilal last week with an £8million obligation to buy him in the summer.
But it is understood the Gabon international would prefer to stay competing at the top level in Europe - as Paris Saint-Germain considered an offer.
Barcelona and Juventus certainly fit the bill for Auba.
They both want reinforcements in attack, especially after the Old Lady lost Federico Chiesa for the remainder of the campaign through a cruel ACL injury.
Alvaro Morata's future could play a significant role in where Aubameyang ends up this week, though.
If he stays on loan at Juventus, the Nou Camp would be the more likely destination.
But if the ex-Chelsea striker gets recalled by Atletico Madrid and joins Barcelona, Auba may go to Juventus.
That is even if they finalise their transfer for Fiorentina striker Dusan Vlahovic, with Max Allegri wanting to use both new signings alongside Paulo Dybala in attack.
Aubameyang's wages do not look likely to cause any problems with both clubs indicating that they are willing to pay the bulk of Aubameyang’s £350,000-a-week basic salary.
Arsenal's other two strikers Alexandre Lacazette and Eddie Nketiah are both struggling for goals and out of contract at the end of this season.
Now Arsenal are frantically scrambling to come up with a top-class alternative, with Real Sociedad’s Alexander Isak and Everton’s Dominic Calvert-Lewin both under consideration.
But neither player is expected to be available this month so allowing Aubameyang to leave without securing a replacement goalscorer would be a massive gamble.
Arsenal are already down to just 21 senior players after allowing Calum Chambers, Ainsley Maitland-Niles, Pablo Mari, Sead Kolasinac and Folarin Balogun to leave this month.
The Aubameyang deal could depend on what happens with Alvaro Morata in the coming days Credit: Getty
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