Report: Club contacts Arsenal ace Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, outlines transfer stance

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Arsenal striker Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang has reportedly been told by Barcelona that he isn’t their priority, according to The Express.

The Gabon international is arguably Arsenal’s most important player, having scored 20 goals in all competitions this season and taking over the team captaincy.

However, Aubameyang’s current contract at the Emirates Stadium expires at the end of the 2020-21 season and talks over a new deal have failed to yield a breakthrough.

The Gunners face a huge battle to qualify for the Champions League, eight points separating them from fourth-placed Chelsea, and even a Europa League spot is far from certain.

As a result, there are doubts over whether Aubameyang would want to remain at Arsenal long-term in that case, or even whether they could afford a new contract without European competition money.

Arsenal head coach Mikel Arteta, meanwhile, is reportedly eager to either tie the 30-year-old down to a new deal or sell him in the summer instead of allowing his contract – and value – to run down.

While Barca have been linked with Aubameyang, The Express claims they have told Aubameyang that he isn’t their priority, with Inter Milan’s Lautaro Martinez and Paris Saint-Germain’s Neymar higher on their shopping list.

Inter, meanwhile, remain interested in the Gunners man and will make a move for him should they sell Martinez, adds the report.

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With Aubameyang’s Arsenal future in doubt due to his contract entering its final year and the club’s potential failure to qualify for Europe, it’s little surprise that he is the subject of so much speculation.

Aubameyang is a world-class player who would certainly be capable of leading the Barcelona line.

However, considering Martinez is just 22 years old and Neymar is one of the most high-profile footballers in the world, not to mention a former Barca star, it’s understandable why they may favour them over Aubameyang.

If the report is true and Barca have let Aubameyang know he’s effectively their third choice, the £200,000-a-week ace (Spotrac) really ought to forget going there even if they were to come back for him, and instead pick a club where he’s their first-choice target.