Pierre Emerick-Aubameyang is happy in North London and is not encouraging any interest from China according to a reporter who claims to know this ‘for a fact’.
Writing in the Nigerian Publication, Weekly Trust, David Billington states:
Having talked with several influential people at the club, I can tell you that there will be more players leaving this summer and Arsenal are looking for younger talent so that a solid foundation can be built under manager Unai Emery rather than relying on older well known names.
Arsenal’s new academy will play an important part in that rebuild. Finance is restricted but there will be positive steps taken by the Gunners however fans might have to wait a couple of seasons before seriously challenging again for the top spot. Chinese clubs Guangzhou Evergrande and Shanghai are chasing joint Golden Boot winner Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang but Arsenal’s board have indicated that they will increase his £190k a week salary to keep him.
I know for a fact that the player himself is happy living in North London and has given the Chinese no encouragement to move him. As part of his current deal he also receives a £3.75million loyalty bonus for every season completed with the Gunners.
It doesn’t surprise me that Auba has no interest in heading to China at this stage of his career.
According to the S*n, Shanghai SIPG have offered Arsenal’s leading goalscorer £300kpw and the redtop rag suggested that his failure to score against Chelsea in the Europa League hints that he ‘cannot cut it in the biggest games’.
This, of course, is total nonsense.
Aubameyang has scored six goals against Bayern Munich, two against United, one against Liverpool, and six in seven against the media’s darling, Tottenham. He’s been top scorer at his club in two of the last three seasons. He was top scorer in the division as well in those seasons.
Arsenal are expected to begin negotiations with Auba over a new deal as he enters the final two years of his current contract. It is highly unlikely they will want to sell their top scorer just 18 months after signing him.
Still, it’s handy for the player’s agent that rags like the S*n are happy to run stories like this as if they have any grounding in reality.