According to Goal’s fresh information, Barcelona are on a lookout for a new centre-forward to fill in for the injured Luis Suarez and have prioritised the signing of Arsenal’s Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang on loan.
What’s the word, then?
Quique Setien’s managerial journey at Barcelona started with a narrow 1-0 victory over Granada at the Camp Nou but the 61-year-old coach is already having to face some serious issues at the club.
Finding a suitable replacement for his injured striker seems to be something the club wants to solve in the ongoing January transfer window, and a six-month loan could be the answer, as Goal explain.
Quickfire Quiz: How much do you know about Arsenal’s history in the January transfer window?
However, even though Aubameyang currently tops their wanted list and the Barcelona hierarchy have agreed on the player, Arsenal might not react well as they are still trying to tie the pacy Gabon star down with a contract extension.
But maybe a short loan stint could actually be the answer for the Catalans.
Verdict
At first glance, Aubameyang should not really be Barcelona’s long-term solution to replace their Uruguayan Pistolero.
But if Goal’s information is to be believed, he’s not supposed to be that at all – with their attempt to snatch him on loan, they could actually get quite a lethal finisher to somehow mitigate for Suarez’s absence.
Aubameyang is one of Premier League’s finest when it comes to scoring goals, already netting 16 across all competitions in 2019/20. Clearly, he would be a great asset to the Blaugrana.
Goal go on to state that Barcelona want to bring in Inter Milan’s Lautaro Martinez in the summer and that means Aubameyang would indeed be sent back to the Emirates in six months.
But Arsenal don’t really seem happy to indulge the Catalans in this idea, if Goal are to be believed, so we’ll have to wait and see what ends up happening.
In all likelihood, Barcelona will have to look elsewhere.
In other news, Barcelona could also be looking to hijack Newcastle’s deal for a young forward from Italy…