Former Arsenal player turned pundit Charlie Nicholas has revealed in a column that he would see captain Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang to rivals Manchester United if it was for £100m.
The Evening Standard point out that the 30-year-old has yet to show any indication that he will sign a new contact with the Gunners and his current deal expires next summer.
This sounds like a very Arsenal-esque story with another star player looking like he’s about to leave the Emirates.
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Arsenal face the following dilemma: keep hold of the striker, with the risk that he’ll leave on a Bosman next summer, or cash in now while they can.
Although the Standard note that Aubameyang has been linked to United, they claim he’s not currently amongst Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s transfer targets.
Here’s what Nicholas had to say on Aubameyang’s potential move to United, as per Sporting Life:
“It depends what people put down as a risk. You give him to Man Utd. If he was to go there, does it help Arsenal?
“No. If Aubameyang wants to go, you ideally want him out of the Premier League, that is the general aspect. If I was Aubameyang, he will be thinking about what happened to Alexis Sanchez.
“Would he want to be a part of a superstar reload at Manchester United? Is there a great appeal to that? If it was Liverpool or Man City I would get that.
“Man Utd are miles away from the top two, but they have the money and better idea of where they can see the progress coming from.
“Arsenal have been in a mess and are only five points behind them with a game in hand. There is not a lot in this.
“I do not see the glamour and appeal of joining Man Utd. Would he win the title with Man Utd in the next few years? I don’t think so.
“He might not even be in the Champions League if he was to join. What is the real appeal? Is it salary? I don’t think he is that type.
“Van Persie jumped to a massive salary, but Man Utd are not the same calibre as what they were. Would he be the cutting edge to them?”
“Man Utd have other issues to address like Arsenal. If Arsenal were to get £100m for him to sign for Man Utd, I would take that.
“It will make them better, that is why they would pay big. Arsenal were the challengers to United for the title, but now neither of them are. Man Utd offer £100m for Aubameyang, sell him.”
Robin van Persie was one player who controversially left the Emirates to join United, with the Dutch striker leading Sir Alex Ferguson’s side to the club’s 20th league title in the Scot’s final season before retirement.
Then there’s Alexis Sanchez. The less said about him the better.
