Arsenal’s fresh fear over Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang replacement as transfer talks continue

Arteta gives update on Arsenal's transfer plans ahead of Deadline Day

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Arsenal will struggle to find a replacement for Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang before the January transfer window deadline on Monday night. Aubameyang has been offered a way out of north London, with Barcelona willing to take him on loan, but the Gunners’ efforts to find a new striker are flagging, according to reports.

Aubameyang has not played for Arsenal since December 6 after being stripped of the captaincy by Mikel Arteta.

The 32-year-old’s “disciplinary breach”, as the club termed it, has proven costly, with Arteta freezing his former captain out.

Aubameyang has been training on his own recently since returning from the Africa Cup of Nations and is not with the rest of the squad, who are training in Dubai.

Barcelona, Juventus and Saudi Arabian club Al Nassr all emerged as potential suitors for the striker over the past week.

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But, according to The Times, it is Barca who could complete a move for Aubameyang before Monday’s 11pm deadline.

The Spanish giants are willing to take him on loan until the end of the season and pay the majority of his £350,000 per week wages.

That is undoubtedly good news for Arteta, who is keen to move on the Gabon international, but it does represent a significant gamble too.

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His exit would leave Eddie Nketiah and Alexandre Lacazette as the only remaining strikers at the club.

Both are out of contract in July and Nketiah is currently the subject of interest from Crystal Palace and Newcastle.

Arteta has made it clear he wants to keep hold of Nketiah, who should get more game time in the second half of the campaign.

That is just as well, because The Times says there is ‘no guarantee’ Arsenal will sign a replacement for Aubameyang, which could leave the side very short at the top of the pitch.

Arsenal have failed to score in their last four games in all competitions and are without a win in 2022.

They missed out on signing number one target Dusan Vlahovic, who joined Juventus from Fiorentina.

Alexander Isak of Real Sociedad has been strongly linked with a move to north London and is understood to have a release clause of £58m (€70m).

Alvaro Morata has been offered to several clubs, but is expected to stay at Juventus while Luka Jovic will remain at Real Madrid, according to the report.

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