Arsenal have had a second bid for Borussia Dortmund striker Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang rejected, days after manager Arsene Wenger admitted not being confident of agreeing a deal.

According to Sky Sports, the Gunners had a bid of £44m turned down, with BVB reportedly seeking in excess of £50m before they part company with the prolific Gabon international.

Signed from French Ligue 1 side AS Saint-Etienne in 2013, the 28-year-old has scored 141 goals in 212 games in all competitions for Dortmund. He’s bagged 13 goals in 15 Bundesliga games this campaign, but he’s struggled with indiscipline and has been left out of two Dortmund games as a result.

DORTMUND, GERMANY - DECEMBER 09: Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang of Dortmund with his beats headphones on, before the Bundesliga match between Borussia Dortmund and SV Werder Bremen at Signal Iduna Park on December 9, 2017 in Dortmund, Germany. (Photo by Stuart Franklin/Bongarts/Getty Images )
DORTMUND, GERMANY – DECEMBER 09: Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang of Dortmund with his beats headphones on, before the Bundesliga match between Borussia Dortmund and SV Werder Bremen at Signal Iduna Park on December 9, 2017 in Dortmund, Germany. (Photo by Stuart Franklin/Bongarts/Getty Images )

Wenger’s admission hints there’s a possibility no deal could be agreed in time too, with the long-serving Arsenal boss saying: “You never know how close you are. He is one of the possible movements, but we have other things in mind as well.

 “We have plenty of opportunities and the final decision is not made. At the moment we are not close to any deal, Aubameyang or anybody else.” BBC Sport say Arsenal will have to bid almost £10m more to land their man, and it doesn’t appear Olivier Giroud will be used as a makeweight.

With less than a week remaining of the January transfer window, Arsenal need to lodge a bid closer to Dortmund’s asking price if they are to sign a prolific centre-forward. He would have stuff competition in the side from Alexandre Lacazette and Giroud but would nevertheless be a brilliant addition.