Arsenal are so keen to offload Pierre Emerick Aubameyang, that he will leave for Barcelona on a permanent free transfer.
The 32-year old has been frozen out by Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta since a breach of club discipline in December. He was stripped of the club captaincy, and forced to train on his own.
Aubameyang hasn't played for Arsenal, since a 5-minute cameo in a defeat away to Everton on December 6. His Africa Cup of Nations campaign with Gabon ended before it began due to COVID-19.
He was subsequently diagnosed with heart lesions, and dispatched back to London without playing a minute for his country in Cameroon.
Despite his pariah status in North London, in swooped Barcelona on deadline day.
A loan deal was initially mooted, but reportedly collapsed with Arsenal unwilling to cover a cent of his wages while at the Camp Nou.
Claims he had only travelled to Spain on a family break then did the rounds on social media, as memories of Peter Odemwingie's fruitless drive to Queens Park Rangers' carpark came to mind.
But then, in stepped Barcelona president Joan Laporta - never shy of a quote. “Mateu Alemany [Barça CEO] told me that it looks like Aubameyang will come," he told Mundo Deportivo.
Talk of a loan rapidly turned into that of a free transfer, with Arsenal happy to rid themselves of Aubameyang for good.
Barcelona still need to get Ousmane Dembele off their books. Their €105million signing from Borussia Dortmund is seeking a huge payoff if he is to cut his time in Catalunya short.
However, Arsenal are believed to be unwilling to add Dembele to their list of problems.
“The last option for Dembélé is a move to an English club,” Laporta said on Monday night.
It's rumoured Chelsea maintain an interest in signing the 24-year old.
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