Please take him! Arsenal have urged European clubs to sign Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang
Arsenal have urged European clubs to sign Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang after being frozen out of Mikel Arteta's squad... but Gunners fear his value has plummeted after he was stripped of the captaincy
- Arsenal have informed clubs of Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang’s availability
- The striker has been frozen out of the squad after three disciplinary breaches
- Gunners worry his value may have dropped after the fallout from his debacle
- Aubameyang’s £350,000 a week salary could also be an obstacle to his exit
Arsenal outcast Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang’s future at the club has become even more uncertain as European teams have been informed of the unsettled striker’s availability.
Sportsmail has also learned that Sead Kolasinac and Ainsley Maitland-Niles are set to leave the club.
Aubameyang, who has been frozen out of the first team and was stripped of the club captaincy after returning late from an authorised trip to France to collect his sick mother, is on Africa Cup of Nations duty with Gabon.
His participation in Africa is likely to complicate any potential deal before the January window shuts, but the path for his eventual exit is being cleared.
Aubameyang’s huge £350,000-per-week wage will provide an obvious obstacle to his departure. Arsenal are also concerned that the public falling out which led to Arteta stripping Aubameyang of the captaincy means his value will plummet.
Meanwhile, England international Maitland-Niles will hold talks with Arteta this week ahead of a potential move to Roma.
Arteta, who missed the Gunners’ loss to Manchester City on Saturday because of Covid, is due to return to the club’s London Colney HQ in time for Thursday’s Carabao Cup semi-final first leg against Liverpool.
Maitland-Niles, who can play at right back or in midfield, will chat face-to-face with Arteta after Roma, who are managed by Jose Mourinho, expressed a firm interest in him.
The Italian club have submitted a loan offer for the 24-year-old, with an option to buy in the summer.
Maitland-Niles wants to join Roma, but if Arsenal stand in his way he will stay in north London. That would see him head towards the final 12 months of his contract and leave Arsenal in danger of losing him on a free transfer.
Left back Kolasinac is also wanted abroad, with Marseille interested in the 28-year-old, who has six months left on his contract.