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Arsene Wenger would rather keep Arsenal's move for Aubameyang 'secret' as he reveals Mesut Ozil will stay

The Gunners are set to welcome Henrikh Mkhitaryan to the club this week

Jack Austin
Thursday 18 January 2018 10:35 GMT
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Premier League transfer round-up: Latest deals from the January window

Arsene Wenger has admitted Arsenal’s move for Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang is not close and insisted the transfer is “better when it’s a secret”.

Aubameyang's recent behaviour has been met with bafflement by his Borussia Dortmund bosses, with the striker dropped for last weekend's Bundesliga clash with Wolfsburg for skipping a key team meeting – the second time this season he has been banned by his club for "disciplinary reasons".

The 28-year-old is a target for Arsenal as a replacement for Alexis Sanchez, whose move to Manchester United is “likely to happen”, according to Wenger on Thursday.

Aubameyang is reportedly desperate for a move to Arsenal, whose new head of recruitment Sven Mislintat knows the player from his time at Dortmund.

But speaking on the subject of Aubameyang, Wenger said: “No I have nothing to add to that. This kind of thing is better when it’s secret.

“You announce it when it’s over the line. Nothing else [other than Sanchez] is close.”

He also spoke on the attitude of Aubameyang after his third disciplinary in 12 months at Dortmund.

“Yes, a character can be very positive or very negative,” he admitted. “Overall you look at achievement over career and if he has done well, the character has been used in a positive way.”

Wenger further added that Mesut Ozil, who, like Sanchez, is out of contract at the end of the season, would be staying at Arsenal for the remaining six months of his deal.

When asked if the German would be at the Emirates beyond January, he simply responded: “Yes.”

As well as Henrikh Mkhitaryan arriving as part of the Sanchez deal, Arsenal are believed to be interested in West Bromwich Albion’s Jonny Evans, in addition to Aubameyang, but Wenger was coy on the subject, insisting: “I have nothing to add on that.”

He did confirm when poised a question about a move for Bordeaux winger Malcom that “I don't think that will happen [in January].”

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