Arsenal striker Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang is a subject of a summer move to Inter Milan as Antonio Conte is ready to another Premier League star to Italy. The Gabonese international joined the Gunners for a club-record fee of £56 million from Bundesliga side Borussia Dortmund in January 2018 and has been impressive since his move to the Emirates stadium.
The 30-year-old is under contract at the north London club until summer 2021 but has so far refused to commit by signing a new deal. According to reports, the Arsenal captain is not sure of staying at the club if they fail to qualify for Champions League next season. Arsenal are 11th in the Premier League and unlikely to play in the Champions League next season while Inter are currently top of Serie A.
Arsenal, however, want their star man to commit his future to the club by signing a new deal before he enters the final year of his current contract, which is worth nearly £200,000 a week. Arsenal have offered Aubameyang a significant pay rise of £350,000-a-week to stay which he has already rejected. The club also added clauses in the new deal that would trigger another hike if he can help fire them back into the Champions League.
This development has led Conte to want to bring Aubameyang to partner former Manchester United man Romelu Lukaku up front who are contesting for the Serie A title. Inter are also set to qualify for the Champions League next season. The former Chelsea manager has already brought Christian Eriksen, Ashley Young as well as Alexis Sanchez and Victor Moses on loan too to San Siro.
Barcelona had expressed an interest in signing Aubameyang, but are now understood to be looking at Inter’s Lautaro Martinez. The Catalans are in the hunt for a new striker following the injury to striker Luiz Suarez. The Uruguayan will be sidelined for at least six weeks after he required surgery on a knee injury.
The Spanish club have identified the Arsenal captain as cover and replacement for the Uruguayan and will want to bring the Gabonese international to the Nou Camp in the summer in order to reinforce their attacking options.
