Arsenal have slapped a £50million price tag on Barcelona target Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang.
The Gabon international has less than 18 months to run on his existing deal with the Gunners and has so far refused to extend terms.
The 30-year-old became the club’s record signing in 2018 when he signed from Dortmund in a deal worth £57m and he’s gone someway to paying back that fee by scoring 61 goals in 97 appearances in all competitions.
However, Aubameyang has intimated that he won’t sign a new deal and Barcelona showed interest in the forward in January following injury to Luis Suarez.
The Catalans will splash out on a centre-forward this summer and Aubameyang wants to put himself at the front of the queue, meaning he won’t entertain any new offers from Arsenal.
The Gunners are slowly accepting that their bid to keep Aubameyang is all but over, especially with the club looking unlikely to qualify for the Champions League.
Missing out on a Champions League spot will have a huge effect on Arsenal’s finances and they can’t afford to keep Aubameyang for another season if he’s then to walk out for free.
The club have therefore reluctantly held discussions with Barcelona and have told the La Liga giants that they want £50m for Aubameyang, according to Spanish outlet Sport.
Arsenal consider this a fair price given the former Dortmund star’s performances in the last 18 months but Barcelona had hoped to agree a lower fee.
Barcelona have reportedly warned Aubameyang’s representatives that they have other options and any deal would need to be lower than Arsenal’s asking price to go ahead.
Aubameyang’s entourage are now expected to test Arsenal’s resolve by informing the club that he will not sign a new deal and it remains to be seen if the Gunners are willing to accept a lower fee or the risk of him walking out for free 12 months later.
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