Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang has lost out on the Africa Player of the Month award for January as it went to a top Arsenal target – Nicholas Pepe.

LONDON, ENGLAND - JANUARY 01: Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang of Arsenal celebrates after scoring his team's fourth goal during the Premier League match between Arsenal FC and Fulham FC at Emirates Stadium on January 1, 2019 in London, United Kingdom. (Photo by Catherine Ivill/Getty Images)
LONDON, ENGLAND – JANUARY 01: Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang of Arsenal celebrates after scoring his team’s fourth goal during the Premier League match between Arsenal FC and Fulham FC at Emirates Stadium on January 1, 2019 in London, United Kingdom. (Photo by Catherine Ivill/Getty Images)

Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang has been in England for a year now but it’s like he’s been here all his life.

In his first full season with Arsenal, Aubameyang has scored 18 goals in 30 appearances, with 15 goals and four assists in 24 league games. Second in the Golden Boot scoring charts after leading it all season, it’s safe to say he arrived in England without breaking his Borussia Dortmund scoring stride.

January saw him score against Fulham, Manchester United and Cardiff and, as a result, he was nominated for France Football Africa Player of the Month for January.

Lille's Ivorian forward Nicolas Pepe celebrates after scoring a goal during the French L1 football match between Lille (LOSC) and Olympique Lyonnais (OL) on December 1, 2018 at the Pierre Mauroy Stadium in Villenueve d'Ascq. (Photo by FRANCOIS LO PRESTI/AFP/Getty Images)
Lille’s Ivorian forward Nicolas Pepe celebrates after scoring a goal during the French L1 football match between Lille (LOSC) and Olympique Lyonnais (OL) on December 1, 2018 at the Pierre Mauroy Stadium in Villenueve d’Ascq. (Photo by FRANCOIS LO PRESTI/AFP/Getty Images)

Aubameyang faced competition for the award from Nicolas Pepe at Lille and Thomas Partey at Atletico Madrid, both players who have been linked with a move to Arsenal in some degree over the past 12 months.

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SINGAPORE - JULY 29: Thomas Partey of Atletico Madrid gives a pitch side interview during training ahead of the International Champions Cup match between Paris Saint Germain and Atletico Madrid at Bishan Stadium on July 29, 2018 in Singapore. (Photo by Suhaimi Abdullah/Getty Images for ICC)
SINGAPORE – JULY 29: Thomas Partey of Atletico Madrid gives a pitch side interview during training ahead of the International Champions Cup match between Paris Saint Germain and Atletico Madrid at Bishan Stadium on July 29, 2018 in Singapore. (Photo by Suhaimi Abdullah/Getty Images for ICC)

Voting closed on Wednesday and it seems like Arsenal’s immense online polling prowess was not enough to seal the award for their frontman.

Pepe, who seems set to move in the summer, received 75% of the vote for his January performance with Auba coming in third place.

Arsenal are still reportedly interested in signing Nicolas Pepe from Lille and the French club are prepared to receive offers for the player in June.

Lille's Ivorian forward Nicolas Pepe celebrates after scoring a goal during the French L1 football match between Lille (LOSC) and Olympique Lyonnais (OL) on December 1, 2018 at the Pierre Mauroy Stadium in Villenueve d'Ascq. (Photo by FRANCOIS LO PRESTI/AFP/Getty Images)
Lille’s Ivorian forward Nicolas Pepe celebrates after scoring a goal during the French L1 football match between Lille (LOSC) and Olympique Lyonnais (OL) on December 1, 2018 at the Pierre Mauroy Stadium in Villenueve d’Ascq. (Photo by FRANCOIS LO PRESTI/AFP/Getty Images)

Lille, it seems, are resigned to losing Pepe in the summer window after holding on to him in January. They’ve been looking around for replacements, with Krzysztof Piatek and Luka Jovic amongst those being linked.

Pepe-to-Arsenal does, however, seem unlikely. He’s being watched by Manchester City for a start and if they decide to make a move there is no way Arsenal can compete – either in fee, wages or trophy potential.

The other main side linked with his signature? Barcelona.

Lille need to sell according to Mundo Deportivo in order to balance their books so a bargain might be available but that seems unlikely when you have such big hitters in the mix.

190209 mundo deportivo pepe
Mundo Deportivo 9 February 2019

The Ligue 1 side, despite their need for cash, are still expecting to bring in over €50m for Pepe.

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