Having had their wayward striker Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang put on ice by Mikel Arteta due to disciplinary issues, Arsenal are now trying to ship out the Gabonese international in this month’s transfer window and the latest is that Arsenal’s concerns around his potential transfer move to Al-Hilal may have been resolved as the Saudi club prepare to submit an offer.
The Gunners manager has frozen Aubameyang well out of his plans after a succession of disciplinary-related issues, had also stripped the striker of his captaincy. This in effect means that he is free to leave the Emirates Stadium this month after four years at the Premier League giants, either on loan or on a permanent deal.
The main obstacle in the way of his potential exit is his astonishingly high wages of £350,000 a week, having been handed a substantial pay rise as part of a new contract signed in 2020 when he was then enjoying the good graces of the manager.
However, the good news is that Arsenal’s hopes of moving the Gabon international on before the end of the window have now reportedly been handed a major boost as, according to the Daily Mail, Saudi Pro League side Al Hilal are apparently prepared to pay Aubameyang’s wages in full as part of a loan deal.
Leonardo Jardim’s side currently rank fourth in the Saudi league and are understood to have offered to take Aubameyang on loan for the rest of the season, with an option to make the move permanent in the summer. The move has been described as being ‘hugely attractive’ to Arsenal, with Al-Hilal prepared to take on the striker’s huge wages in full.
It is stated that the Gunners would be inclined to accept the offer, though the decision to move to the Middle East is now dependent on Aubameyang and the striker and his representatives are set to study the offer in the coming days.
Understandably this is unlikely to be the Gabonese’s only offer, with interest in Aubameyang said to be ‘growing’ as time ticks down on the transfer window.
The Gunners have already made a number of European clubs aware that they will allow the striker to leave in the hope of new interest.
Al Hilal are also facing competition from fellow Saudi side Al Nassr, who are one place above them in the Pro League.