Barcelona are reportedly interested in signing Pierre Emerick-Aubameyang this summer and are prepared to offer Philippe Coutinho to Arsenal in part-exchange.
Aubameyang missed the Gunners’ opening defeat at Brentford on Friday evening through illness and reports this week have suggested Arsenal could be open to the sale of the club captain.
Barcelona are keen to reinforce their attacking options following the departure of Lionel Messi to Paris Saint-Germain, though the club’s crippling financial situation – revealed to be 1.15bn in debt by president Joan Laporta – means cost-efficient methods of strengthening are being sought.
According to Sky Sports, the Spanish side are prepared to offer former Liverpool midfielder Coutinho to the north Londoners as part of a package to sign Aubameyang.
Coutinho has struggled to make an impression since a £142m move to Barcelona from Anfield in January 2018 and has previously been linked with Arsenal as the club seek creativity.
However, Fabrizio Romano has stated that Barcelona are not currently negotiating for Aubameyang with sales the current focus for the Catalans.
Barcelona are currently not negotiating for Pierre Aubameyang from Arsenal as new striker. He’s not a target now, priority is to sell players. ???????? @mattemoretto #FCB #AFC
Still no bid or talks for Clement Lenglet. Umtiti (NO Benfica) and Pjanic situation to be clarified soon.
— Fabrizio Romano (@FabrizioRomano) August 16, 2021
Clement Lenglet, Samuel Umtiti and Miralem Pjanic have all been linked with exits, as the club desperately seek to raise funds and reduce their inflated wage bill this summer.
Martin Braithwaite is another player who could leave and is understood to have attracted interest from the Premier League and across Europe, the potential departure of the Denmark international leaving a forward void the Spaniards could look to fill with Aubameyang.
Aubameyang has scored 85 goals in just 148 appearances since signing for Arsenal from Borussia Dortmund three-and-a-half years ago, but struggled for form last season after signing a new lucrative three-year contract.
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