Borussia Dortmund forward Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, who has been continually linked with Arsenal over the past two seasons, has hinted at a potential departure from Germany in the summer.

The 27-year-old attacker, who has already netted 20 goals in all competitions this season, has flourished since a £11m move from Saint-Etienne in the summer of 2013.

His existing contract still has three-and-a-half years left to run but the Gabon international, who scored two despite his nation’s early exit from the Africa Cup of Nations, is eyeing the next step in his career.

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Gabon’s forward Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang (R) celebrates with defender Benjamin Ze Ondo after scoring a goal during the 2017 Africa Cup of Nations group A football match against Burkina Faso at the Stade de l’Amitie Sino-Gabonaise in Libreville on January 18, 2017. (Picture source: Gabriel Bouys / AFP / Getty Images)

In February last year he admitted that a move to La Liga giants Real Madrid would be a dream for him at some stage before he retires, something which stemmed from days as a child and a promise made to his grandfather on his deathbed.

As reported by the Sun yesterday evening, he acknowledged the fact that a summer move would help progress his game to the next level.

During an interview with French radio station RMC he said, “If I want to go to the next level, I need to leave in [the] summer. Real Madrid is still a dream, but there has been too much noise.

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Aubameyang (R) was a handful for Real Madrid to deal with during both Champions League group stages fixtures before Christmas and performing well will only fuel his desire to join the competition’s defending champions at some point in the not-too-distant future. (Picture source: Javier Soriano / AFP / Getty Images)

Real themselves have been linked with a formal approach for his services in the past but nothing materialised. Although Dortmund will be eager to keep hold of their key men in attack, these quotes won’t be particularly surprising from a player always looking to improve.

Transfer fees in the region of £70m and above are the only offers that the Bundesliga side will deem acceptable and despite interest from the likes of Arsenal, Liverpool and Manchester City in previous windows, the money will ultimately be seen as too inflated for a player who might not necessarily see the aforementioned clubs as much of an improvement on his current surroundings at the Signal Iduna Park.