Arsenal reportedly want to replace Alexis Sanchez with Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, but the rumour seems to have stemmed from one untrustworthy source.
At the start of January, Di Marzio wrote that Arsenal were looking at the striker to replace Alexis. Di Marzio has made a number of claims this month, including that Sanchez has agreed terms with Manchester City. I wouldn’t trust him alone, considering the Chilean seems to be off to United.
On Sunday, the rumour exploded, with a number of other sources weighing in on the potential deal. It all seemed to kick off after the news that Aubameyang was left out of the Dortmund squad.
.@Aubameyang7 steht aus disziplinarischen Gründen nicht im Kader. #bvbwob pic.twitter.com/bPED0Oh20A
— Borussia Dortmund (@BVB) January 14, 2018
Later that day, Guillem Balague claimed Arsenal would pay €60m for the striker. Again, he’s not a source I would trust personally, considering everything he’s got wrong in the past. Most fans seem to agree with that assessment:
Little known fact that Guilleme Balague is Spanish for John Cross
— OG (@gregory_simon) January 15, 2018
Kike Marin really got the ball rolling by claiming Arsenal will sign Aubameyang and another player. The general feeling is that Marin is a reliable source, but I still have flashbacks to 2015. That summer, he kept repeating that a Benzema deal was close, only for the striker to flatly deny the rumours.
@Arsenal will sign Aubameyang … and another one. #Arsenal pic.twitter.com/2GPA7qfHD9
— Kike Marin** (@Kike_Marin_) January 14, 2018
Next, German publication Bild agreed that Arsenal are very keen on the striker. Also, Bundesliga expert Lee Price told the Express that the Gunners had agreed personal terms. Neither of these sources are much more reliable than Balague.
Then again, if you trust Bild on any teams, it’s Bayern and Dortmund. If you’re ever going to take the Express seriously, it’s when they’re quoting an outside source like Price.
Finally, Jeremy Wilson wrote that Wenger wants two of Aubameyang, Malcom and Mkhitaryan this window. He’s probably the most reliable source we’ve had so far. The Telegraph writer exclusively broke the news of the Van Dijk to Liverpool deal in late December.
I wouldn’t say any of these sources provide concrete evidence of a move. On the other hand, the fact so many of them are jumping on the bandwagon might indicate there’s something in the rumours.
We’ll bring you more updates as soon as possible.