Arsenal are reportedly preparing a bid to sign Moussa Dembele ahead of the transfer window.
The 23-year-old has earned a reputation as one of the most lethal strikers in Ligue 1 since his move from Celtic to Lyon last year, scoring 29 goals in 62 appearance for the French outfit.
Dembele’s goalscoring exploits saw him heavily linked with Manchester United last summer and Chelsea have also held a long-term interest in the forward.
However, according to Le 10 Sport, Arsenal are frontrunners to sign Dembele as they prepare to cash in on either Pierre-Aubameyang or Alexandre Lacazette.
The Gunners are resigned to losing at least one of their star forwards and, as a result, the north London club have prioritised a move for Dembele.
Arsenal are prepared to meet Lyon’s demands for the sought-after Frenchman and will look to land him either this January or next summer.
Aubameyang is now ‘desperate’ to leave Arsenal in order to join a team capable of competing for major silverware.
Senior figures Lacazette and Granit Xhaka are also said to be considering their futures, as well as around half of Arsenal’s dressing room.
Last week, Aubameyang’s brother fuelled rumours of a possible move for his sibling after questioning the club’s decision to appoint Mikel Arteta.
The Gabon attacker is tied into a contract at the Emirates until 2021 and, while Arsenal will try to persuade the attacker to stay, they will not be held to ransom as they were by Mesut Ozil and Alexis Sanchez.
Aubameyang has arguably been Arsenal’s standout performer this season, scoring 13 goals across all competitions.
Arsenal legend Charlie Nicholas believes his former club must sell Aubameyang or Lacazette in order to raise transfer funds.
He said: ‘Defensively, in midfield, in attack – Aubameyang’s all over the place, Lacazette doesn’t get a game and feels unloved – he [Arteta] might have to sell them to get some money in,.
‘The other issues, the big ones, are the leadership issues that he has to take on.
‘Does Ozil fit? No, well he can go. Xhaka? There is interest from Hertha Berlin, you can go because what you did would not suit what I want. There are many big decisions to make.
‘It’s easy to say get rid of six or seven players but they aren’t ready to replace them yet, so that’s the hard part.
‘But the first thing he must do is walk in the dressing room and say “here’s my rules, here’s the way I’m doing things, I’m leading this football team now so get on board or move on”.’
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