According to reports from SportBild, Borussia Dortmund could succumb to selling star striker Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang if a suitor meets their £42million valuation.
A number of Premier League side were monitoring the Gabon international’s availability during the summer until he signed a contract extension until 2020, but he’s attracting interest from England and Europe’s top clubs once again following a scintillating start to the season.
Indeed, the 26-year-old has bagged 22 goals in just 20 appearances for Dortmund this term, bringing his Black-Yellows total to 62 in 114 since signing from St. Etienne in summer 2013, and currently boasts the most league goals of any player in Europe’s five top flights – an impressive 14.
Also famed for his sensational speed, the 6 foot 1 striker has often been mooted as a particularly good fit for Premier League football, something which in combination with recent injury problems has only exacerbated Arsenal and Liverpool’s reported interest ahead of the January transfer window. A recent injury to Theo Walcott has highlighted the Gunners’ limited depth up top, whilst summer signing Divock Origi has been the only fully fit striker at Jurgen Klopp’s disposal since taking the Anfield helm in October.
But the Premier League duo will have to overcome some considerable obstacles first if they intend to sign Aubameyang during the coming transfer window.
Long-term interest from European champions Barcelona could certainly prove problematic, especially after the former AC Milan man told BBC World Service earlier this month; “One day I’ll leave to play in another league. My dream is to play in Spain. After that contract [expiring in 2020] I have this dream to play in Spain. I hope that will happen but when? I don’t know. Lots of people think that the Premier League would good for me but my mum is Spanish and I really have that dream to play over there.”
Likewise, German publication SportBild claim Dortmund’s ‘pain threshold’ for the striker is around the £42million mark (€60million), which would constitute a club-record fee for Liverpool and the second-most expensive signing in Arsenal’s history – falling just slightly short of £42.5million man Mesut Ozil.