Arsenal striker Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang could leave the Emirates in less than 18 months’ time. The Gabon international is signed until July 2021 and Arsenal could lose their leading goalscorer if something isn’t done soon.
In November, it was revealed that the Arsenal striker was not willing to pledge his future to the Gunners. It seems little has changed with the addition of manager Mikel Arteta in December.
The important of Aubameyang
Aubameyang has scored 15 goals in 24 league appearances in 2019-20. He is currently third in the league in goals and just two off of top scorer Jamie Vardy. Arsenal have scored just 36 times in the Premier League meaning Aubameyang has bagged 42% of the team’s scoring.
https://twitter.com/Between_TL/status/1230109837083713536
The striker’s goals have been the difference between Arsenal dropping and gaining points this season. Take away Aubameyang’s 15 Premier League strikes and it is difficult to see where the Gunners would get scoring from.
Alexandre Lacazette hasn’t had a good season in front of goal. The Frenchman has scored six times in 19 appearances in the league and may struggle to reach the 13-goal mark of last term.
Where will the Arsenal striker go?
Rumours have linked Aubameyang to other top clubs around Europe including Barcelona. In January, Aubameyang was rumoured as a potential loan target of the Blaugrana, who were desperate for a striker to replace the injured duo of Luis Suarez and Ousmane Dembele.
Barcelona could re-ignite their interest in the offseason as Suarez and Lionel Messi continue to grow older. The Blaugrana could even sweeten a possible transfer for Aubameyang by offering Philippe Countinho in the deal. But Barcelona are not the only team interested in the ex-Borussia Dortmund hitman.
⚠️ Inter Milan will reportedly turn to Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang this summer should Barcelona manage to lure Lautaro Martinez to Spain! [Various sources] pic.twitter.com/yVfWed9NrT
— CheekySport (@CheekySport) February 19, 2020
If Arsenal are unable to re-sign Aubameyang in the summer, they may be forced to sell the striker. Aubamyang can sign for a team outside of England on a free transfer in January 2021. Losing the striker on a free would be devastating for a club that doesn’t have the finances to splurge large sums on multiple players each transfer window. Or do they?
Although it is claimed Arsenal are restricted in the amount of money they have to spend on transfers, the Gunners did shell out £138 million on players in the 2019 offseason. Meanwhile, the club also signed Dani Ceballos, Pablo Mari, and Cedric Soares on loans in the last two transfer windows.
There has been money available to the team’s managers, but losing Aubameyang would be detrimental to their chances of returning to the Premier League’s top four.
Arsenal are on target to miss out on Champions League qualification again this season. It will be the fourth straight season in which the Gunners miss the top four. Losing Aubameyang would only set back Arsenal further.
The 30-year-old has scored 58 goals in 93 matches in all competitions for the Gunners and is the best striker the Emirates has seen since Robin van Persie. Keeping Aubameyang at the Emirates should be the most important item on Arteta’s to-do list.