With still a year to go on his deal with Arsenal, Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang is the subject of persistent speculations. The big question is where the Gunners team captain will head next as elite clubs are reportedly looking to attract away from the Emirates. Barcelona, however, might be out of the running.
While in the past months it would seem that the Gabon international is ready to transfer and join the Spanish giants in the summer, it now appears that Camp Nou is more interested in landing Lautaro Martinez.
Presently with Inter Milan, the Argentine has been identified by Lionel Messi as Barca's priority transfer target. The Daily Star said Martinez has a £102 million price tag but the Catalans are determined to recruit him and convinced Inter will agree to a sale for the right packaging.
On that, the Argentine striker has been marked as the No. 1 acquisition goal by Barcelona in the upcoming transfer window and the report suggested that all efforts will be exhausted to make sure Martinez will be wearing the Barca colors in time for the next season.
For Aubameyang, this means that he'll be on the target screen only if the move on Martinez will fail. This reality favors Arsenal and should convince the 30-year-old to consider sticking with the Gunners or look elsewhere.
And where the Gabon striker could play next will not be necessarily outside of England. The Arsenal skipper has been a target by Manchester United and reports said the Premier League club will be willing to spend to bring Aubameyang to Old Trafford.
According to Metro, Arsenal's asking price for the goalscorer is no lower than £50 million and the figures appear to be a non-issue with the Red Devils. United boss Ole Gunnar Solskjaer is thought to be resolved in adding Aubameyang to his strike force and has won the clearance to spend big if needed.
However, Arsenal legend Paul Merson called the attention of Solskjaer and warned him that hiring Aubameyang could prove to be a big mistake for United. Merson reminded that the player is turning 31 soon and could simply be looking to secure his last big contract.
The pundit said Aubameyang may just lack the motivation to win the Premier League, which obviously is the reason United is working to get him.
"I don't think you can say Aubameyang would be going for ambition if he went to Manchester United ... He'd be going for the money because he's almost 31 and this would likely to be his last move," Merson was reported as saying.
He insisted that in hiring Aubameyang, United will get no assurance that the striker will be a key factor for the club to win trophies in the next two to three years.
