Arsenal are determined to resist any offers for Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, amid ongoing interest from China.
The 29-year-old striker has two years remaining on his current contract and plans are in place to offer him an extension, which would include an increase on his current £190,000-a-week wage.
Although the Gunners missed out on Champions League qualification after finishing fifth in the Premier League and losing last week’s Europa League Final to Chelsea, Arsenal believe Aubameyang is settled in north London and has shown no signs of wanting to force a move.
However, two Chinese clubs are hopeful that could change. Guangzhou Evergrande and Shanghai SIPG are keen on signing Aubemeyang, who turns 30 later this month. Tianjin Quanjian had agreed a £71million deal with Borussia Dortmund six months before he left the Bundesliga club to join Arsenal in January of last year, but it is unclear if they would bid again.
The Gunners ended up paying a club-record £56m after Tianjin failed to complete a deal in time and Aubameyang’s form was one of the few positives to take from Arsene Wenger’s final season in charge and Unai Emery’s subsequent maiden campaign.
He finished joint-top goalscorer in the Premier League on 22, sharing the Golden Boot with Liverpool duo Sadio Mane and Mohamed Salah, and formed a potent partnership with Alexandre Lacazette, the pair amassing 50 goals in all competitions between them.
As part of his existing deal, Aubameyang is understood to receive a £3.75m loyalty bonus for every season he completes at Arsenal and the club are hopeful this will help offset the lure of a higher wage in China.
It has been suggested the Chinese clubs could offer Aubameyang around £300,000-a-week, a figure which is less than the Gunners currently pay Mesut Ozil but one they are unwilling to match, given a wider necessity of reducing their wage bill.
Talks are also due to take place with Lacazette and his representatives over his situation, with Barcelona and Atletico Madrid both keeping tabs on the French forward as a possible alternative to Antoine Griezmann.
Currently at Atletico, Griezmann has been heavily linked with a move to the Catalan giants.
Emery has around £40m to spend and will be allowed to reinvest any money accrued through player sales. He is, however, keen to retain Aubameyang and Lacazette but is open to selling Ozil if a buyer can be found.
Meanwhile, former Gunners midfielder Edu has reiterated he will make a decision on whether to become the club’s new technical director after the Copa America.
Edu currently works for the Brazilian FA and insists there will be no further announcements on his future until after the tournament finishes on July 7.
