Following the injury to Uruguayan striker Luis Suarez, Barcelona are interested in signing Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang from Arsenal before the January transfer window closes. Aubameyang signed for the Gunners for a club-record fee of £56 million from Bundesliga side Borussia Dortmund in January 2018. The 30-year-old, however, remains under contract at the north London club until summer 2021.
Meanwhile, Suarez will be sidelined for at least six weeks after he required surgery on a knee injury and Barcelona have identified the Arsenal captain as cover and replacement for the Uruguayan. The Spanish want to bring the Gabon international to the Nou Camp this month in order to reinforce their attacking options.
Lionel Messi started up front in Quique Setién’s first game in charge, but club officials fear that they do not have enough cover behind the Argentine and Antoine Griezmann. The Catalans are scared that things would get even worse if anything were to happen to both players. As a result, they want a new high-profile striker in the mold of Aubameyang.
Aubameyang has recently been linked with a move away from the club amid Arsenal’s poor start to the season and reports from Spain claim that Real Madrid will make a player-plus-cash offer for the Gabon international worth up to £70m.
According to Mundo Deportivo, new Barca coach Setién has told the club executives to sign another striker and Barcelona have decided that they want an out-and-out striker rather than a winger or a false nine. The report added that the club sees the Arsenal striker, who has scored 16 goals in 26 appearances this season, as their preferred option among strikers available.
Deportivo claimed that Barca have considered other forwards, such as Valencia’s Rodrigo, but Aubameyang’s pace is believed to make him the more ideal option. The striker has also not hidden the fact he could be tempted away from north London with Arsenal looking increasingly likely to miss out on Champions League football again next season.
Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta has stated his desire to keep his starman and top goal scorer at the Emirates Stadium beyond the current transfer window and Barcelona know that it will difficult to tell Arsenal to let their striker and captain leave but are hopeful an agreement can be reached.
Earlier in the month, Aubameyang distanced himself from a rumoured move away from the Gunners, stating he is “committed to te club and desperate to bring it back to the top”.
“I would also like to react to some of the rumours that are going around about me in the media.
“People like making up stories and they should focus on what’s happening on the pitch.
“They talk too much and it does my head in! I am the Arsenal captain. I love this club.
“I am committed to it and desperate to bring it back to the top, where it belongs.”
