Arsenal are close to agreeing a deal for Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, but Borussia Dortmund must sign a replacement first, according to reports.
A breakthrough in the negotiations for Aubameyang occurred on Sunday night.
The deal had been in limbo for a little while after the two clubs hit a stalemate.
Then, in the dying hours of Sunday, David Ornstein arrived with good news: a deal was close.
In his report for the BBC, Ornstein wrote that Arsenal were close to agreeing a £60m transfer for the 28-year-old striker after having two bids rejected.
The final part of the transfer is Dortmund securing a replacement.
Reports from Germany go into detail as to who that replacement could be.
Kicker write that Arsenal had agreed to send Olivier Giroud on loan for the remainder of the season.
Giroud was previously mentioned as an option, with Ruhr Nachrichten saying that he’d be their preferred choice.
The problem there is that Giroud reportedly doesn’t want to leave London this month.
Kicker go as far as to say that Giroud would prefer a move to Chelsea instead.
In which case, it’s possible that Michy Batshuayi, who Giroud would replace, could go on loan to Dortmund instead.
Tianjin Quanjian striker Anthony Modeste, a favourite of Dortmund manager Peter Stoger after their time together in Cologne, could also be a target.
With just a few days remaining in the window, things should move quickly.
It all now depends on Dortmund getting that replacement in by the deadline…which they might have sorted out quicker than any of us expected if this update is anything to go by:
Just been informed the Aubameyang deal has been concluded and he will definitely be coming to Arsenal
— The Gooner (@GoonerFanzine) January 29, 2018