One aspect of the deal is a “huge bonus” if his goals help the club get back into the Champions League. Head of football Raul Sanllehi is leading negotiations, The Daily Telegraph explains, and he is cautiously optimistic of reaching an agreement with the Gabonese goal machine.
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Currently on £200,000-a-week, plus bonuses, Aubameyang is way short of the £350,000-a-week contract pocketed by Mesut Ozil. While the Gunners can’t put the striker on those sort of wages, the Telegraph says that Sanllehi is “structuring an offer that would give Aubameyang the opportunity to earn as much as the German” provided they reach the Champions League.
His current contract expires in 2021 and the paper understands there is “optimism on both sides that an agreement can be reached”.
Furthermore Arsenal head coach Unai Emery has given assurances to Aubameyang that he remains his main man despite the record signing of Nicolas Pepe from Lille in the summer.
Kroenke: Europa defeat changed transfer approach
Arsenal director Josh Kroenke has told BBC Sport that the Europa League final loss against Chelsea had a huge effect on the club’s transfer strategy this summer.
The Gunners conceded four second-half goals in Baku and Kroenke said: “As the second half of the match unfolded, understanding the position we were in and some of the targets as we headed into the summer from a transfer standpoint, we had to rethink some of our strategy based on that last 45 minutes.
“I think we had a very strong summer. We addressed certain areas on the pitch for this season and in the years ahead. We had certain age profiles that we were after.
“Without Champions League football we weren’t exactly sure, but I encouraged our football operations department to be aggressive and when Arsenal Football Club knocks on a player’s door it’s a different knock.”
(Image credit: Shaun Botterill/Getty Images)
Sanchez to Inter
Inter Milan are set to take Alexis Sanchez on loan, reports The Sun, but Manchester United will have to pay the Chilean flop £250,000-a-week if they want to seal the deal.
Inter have made it clear that they can’t afford to meet his £505,000-a-week wages so have “agreed to go halves to get him out”.
The Sun adds that the deal could become permanent at the end of the season if all goes well with United “receiving a £14m transfer fee”.
Asked about the situation after the 1-1 draw with Wolves on Monday night, United boss Ole Gunnar Solskjaer said: “There are still a couple of weeks left of the [European] transfer window and some clubs have shown interest in Alexis, so we’ll see what happens.”
Bravo to bid bye-bye
Claudio Bravo is set to quit Manchester City at the end of the season on a free transfer.
The Sun says that the Chilean goalkeeper will be out of contract next summer “and there are no plans to extend his deal”.
That’s not surprising, given he’s 36 and carrying a dodgy Achilles, but nonetheless he showed a glimpse of the glory days in seeing City successfully through the penalty shoot-out in the Community Shield win over Liverpool.
But a City insider has confided to the Sun that “Claudio is set to walk away from the club. There are no plans in the pipeline to discuss an extension”.
(Image credit: Laurence Griffiths/Getty Images)
Salah happy at Anfield
Liverpool idol Mohamed Salah insists he has no plans to leave despite rumours linking him with a mega-money move to Spain.
Barcelona and Real Madrid are both believed to be desperate to sign the Egyptian ace, but in an exclusive interview with CNN, the frontman pledged his loyalty to the Reds.
“I’m happy at Liverpool,” explained Salah. “I’m happy in the city - I love the fans and they love me. I’m happy at the club.”
Monaco eye Prem pair
TalkSPORT reports that Monaco are keen on Chelsea’s Tiemoue Bakayoko and Southampton’s Mario Lemina. The Ligue 1 side have until 2 September to complete their transfer business.
Solskjaer: Pogba is staying
Manchester United manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer says French midfielder Paul Pogba will remain at Old Trafford. Pogba has been linked with Real Madrid and Juventus but Solskjaer told reporters: “You always put question marks around Paul, don’t you? I’ve got no concerns on Paul. For me, he is going to stay.”
Transfer deadline day: dates and times
Premier League: closed
EFL Championship: closed
Italy Serie A: Friday 23 August
EFL Leagues One and Two: 5pm on Monday 2 September
Scotland: Monday 2 September (midnight on 3 September)
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