There are still eight days left in what has arguably been the most action packed January transfer window in recent memory. The next deal to potentially close could be Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang to Arsenal, and that could include Olivier Giroud going the other way. A couple days ago, Borussia Dortmund Chief Executive Hans-Joachim Watzke claimed that talks between his side and Arsenal over their star striker had not even started yet.
Apparently, the situation has changed considerably since the weekend, as Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger confirmed on Tuesday that transfer talks are now ongoing. However, he also admitted that this potential deal is a very long way from being closed.
“Confident or not confident? I don’t know. At the moment, we are not close to doing any deal, whether it’s Aubameyang or anyone else,” Wenger told a press conference today, ahead of tomorrow night’s League Cup semi-final against Chelsea.
It’s been reported that Arsenal striker Olivier Giroud may be a part of any Aubameyang agreement, as the Gunners might be about to pull off another swap deal, just like they did with Alexis Sanchez and Henrikh Mkhitaryan.
That deal, which sees Mkhitaryan fill Sanchez’s old number 7 at Arsenal, also means the Armenian will have to wear two squad numbers this season as UEFA mandates two players cannot wear the same jersey number over the course of the same tournament.
Wenger chose to remain coy about the situation overall though, and that’s understandable given how he was just publicly blasted five days ago by BVB leadership for discussing their player in a news conference. Borussia Dortmund Sporting Director Michael Zorc didn’t take too kindly to Wenger discussing how Aubameyang could fit in with his north London side.
“Look, the negotiations are not as far as that. You never know how close they are,” Wenger continued.
“These are the kind of things that, at the moment, are one of the possible movements. We have other things in mind as well and we have plenty of opportunities in different positions. The final decision is not made.”
For what it’s worth, one bookmaker has now suspended wagering on any potential Aubameyang transfer.
Paul M. Banks runs The Sports Bank.net and TheBank.News, which is partnered with News Now. Banks, a former writer for the Washington Times, NBC Chicago.com and Chicago Tribune.com, currently contributes regularly to WGN CLTV and the Tribune company’s blogging community Chicago Now.
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