Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang has been excluded from Borussia Dortmund’s squad to face Wolfsburg amid rumours he is on the verge of leaving the club.
The official reason for the Gabon striker’s absence is ‘disciplinary reasons’, and he has already been suspended twice this season, though his omission comes at a time when he is being chased by a host of clubs around the world.
Reports emerged that two Chinese sides – Guenghzou Evergrande and Beijing Guoan – had agreed to pay £63.5m to land Aubameyang, but he was stalling on a contract amid reservations about moving to the Far East.
That price tag caught the attention of a number of European sides and would represent something of a bargain in today’s market.
Having lost Philippe Coutinho to Barcelona, Liverpool were reported to be trying to hijack the Aubameyang deal in a move that would see him reunited with old boss Jurgen Klopp.
But Arsenal have also been linked with the Dortmund star, with the reliable Gianluca Di Marzio claiming that Aubameyang was on the Gunners’ radar as a replacement for Alexis Sanchez.
Arsene Wenger has confirmed that the Chilean’s move – which is now expected to be to Manchester United – could be completed in the next 48 hours.
Wenger has been promised a high-quality replacement in January by the club’s board, and Aubameyang – who was the top scorer in the Bundesliga last season – would fit the bill.
Arsenal had watched the 28-year-old when he was at Saint-Etienne, though the club’s new Head of Recruitment, Sven Mislintat, signed him for Dortmund while he was still at the German club.
Aubameyang’s recent history of ill-discipline will perhaps concern Wenger, but his 98 Bundesliga goals in just 143 appearances makes him one of few gettable replacements for Sanchez.
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