Arsenal have opened transfer talks with Borussia Dortmund over Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang but Arsene Wenger has serious doubts about the striker’s suitability, according to reports.
Reports emerged over the weekend that the Gunners had lined Aubameyang up as a replacement for Manchester United-bound Alexis Sanchez, while they are also keen on Bordeaux starlet Malcom.
And now The Telegraph have confirmed that while talks for Aubameyang are well underway, manager Wenger needs some convincing that the 28-year-old is the right man to add to his squad.
Aubameyang was suspended for Dortmund’s goalless draw against Wolfsburg on Sunday due to ill-discipline, having ignored a Whatsapp message to attend a team meeting.
It is not the first time this season he has been reprimanded, and Wenger is put off signing Aubameyang by his reputation for behaving badly.
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The deal for the Gabon striker appears to be being driven by Head of Recruitment Sven Mislintat, who signed Aubameyang for Dortmund while he was still a scout at the German side.
Any deal is also dependant on the price BVB are prepared to sell at, with reports earlier this month suggesting an unnamed Chinese club had agreed a £60m fee but Aubameyang was reluctant to move to the Far East.
The Telegraph also suggest that Olivier Giroud could be included in any deal for Aubameyang, with Dortmund having tried to sign him in the summer and the Frenchman keen on more first-team football ahead of the World Cup.
Speaking about Aubameyang’s recent misdemeanour, Dortmund sporting director Michael Zorc explained: ‘We simply cannot tolerate this kind of behaviour.
‘I don’t know what’s going on in his head right now. He has always been a professional. I don’t want to take part in media speculation, but we can’t continue like this anymore.’
