Report: Arsenal now negotiating swap between Aubameyang and Coutinho

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Arsenal and Barcelona have now opened negotiations over a potential swap deal involving Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang and Philippe Coutinho, according to a report from Spanish outlet Sport.

Aubameyang’s future at the Emirates has been a talking point once again this summer.

It was recently reported by The Times that the Gunners will consider offers for the Gabon international.

It comes after a poor pre-season for the 32-year-old. He was also not involved in their Premier League opener against Brentford. Mikel Arteta suggested his absence was down to illness.

But perhaps there is now a chance that he has already made his final appearance for the Gunners.

According to Sport, negotiations are underway with Barca regarding a potential swap. Coutinho would move in the opposite direction.

Sport adds that the Catalan giants believe that an agreement is possible.

Coutinho earns £148,000-a-week at the Nou Camp (Sunday Mirror). So Arsenal would potentially save a lot if they managed to offload Aubameyang.

However, it would arguably be a baffling move from the Gunners.

Arsenal swapping Aubameyang for Coutinho unlikely to be well-received by supporters

Aubameyang has struggled over the last 12 months. But he remains their talisman. And Arsenal got a glimpse of what life could be like without him on Friday.

He has to improve. But in Coutinho, Arsenal would not exactly be landing a player at the top of his game.

In fact, he has not played for Ronald Koeman’s side since December. And he had hardly set the world alight before that.

Admittedly, he was excellent at Liverpool. But he is now 29.

And Arsenal are set to bolster their attacking midfield options with a deal for Martin Odegaard.

So weakening their striker ranks to bring Coutinho to the Emirates would be incredibly questionable.