Arsenal could have a huge hole to fill up front this summer if Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang leaves the club. The latest talk is that Arsenal will not be able to afford his wages to extend his deal, making a summer sale likely. Arsenal could have a huge hole to fill up front this summer if Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang leaves the club
The latest talk is that Arsenal will not be able to afford his wages to extend his deal, making a summer sale likely.
Aubameyang will enter the final 12 months of his contract this summer, and the club are keen to move him on if they cannot agree a new deal rather than losing him for free the following year.
Mikel Arteta insists he still wants him to stay but talks will need to ramp up in the coming weeks.
“We will have to do that at some stage before the end of the season for sure and we will see the intentions that we have [and] his intentions,” Arteta said.
“Where we are sitting in [the table at] that moment. I think it is difficult to predict that context right now. For me it is very easy. I want to keep him under any circumstances.”
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The 30-year-old has 17 Premier League goals for the season, joint leader in the Golden Boot race with Jamie Vardy and one ahead of Sergio Aguero.
And while Arsenal have a host of other strikers, including Alexandre Lacazette, Gabriel Martinelli, and Eddie Nketiah they will likely look to sign a replacement for their key man if he does go.
So who could they sign to replace Aubameyang?
Jonathan David
Canadian Jonathan David has emerged as an option after scoring 18 goals in 26 league games for Belgian side Gent.
The 20-year-old however would represent a risk coming direct from Belgium, but at £17.5m he might be one worth taking.
He joined Gent from Ottawa Internationals in 2018 and has 12 Canada caps, scoring an incredible 11 goals.
Wilfried Zaha
Arsenal were keen on Wilfried Zaha last summer but failed to convince Crystal Palace to sell.
And while not a direct replacement for Aubamayeng he could feature on the wing and allow Lacazette more time through the middle.
Martinelli and Nketiah would also have a clearer route to the first team.
Zaha though has struggled to replicate his form of last season this year. The 27-year-old has just three goals and three assists with Palace in 12th place.
Moussa Dembele
Manchester United are thought to be keen on Moussa Dembele, but their haphazard approach to signings may offer Arsenal a chance to sneak in first.
Dembele flourished in Scotland with Celtic and has impressed since joining Lyon in Ligue 1. He is also on Chelsea’s radar but their may prioritise other areas of the pitch.
Thomas Lemar
Arsenal were linked with Thomas Lemar in January after his troubles at Atletico Madrid and could go back in for him in the summer.
Again it would not be a like for like signing but it would offer Arsenal more on the wings than their current options.