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Arsenal failed in £80m bid for Auba
Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang is one of the most wanted players in football and it appears the Gabonese has another admirer with Corriere dello Sport reporting Arsenal failed with a mega-bid last summer.
The Gunners tabled an £80 million offer for the Borussia Dortmund sensation, who has struck 14 goals in 14 games this season.
The Rome-based publication also reveals Napoli were interested in the 27-year-old, but the Bundesliga club also vehemently rejected any talks for their prized asset.
Meanwhile, Hector Bellerin has ended speculation that he could join Pep Guardiola's revolution at Manchester City or return home to Barcelona with the Mirror reporting the 21-year-old has signed a six-year contract extension.
The Spanish right-back will pen terms of £100,000 per week, meaning his new deal is worth more than £30m.
Bellerin has been a sensation since breaking into the Gunners' first team and has quickly become a member of the senior Spanish national team.
Arsene Wenger believes he has the right-back of the future and hopes Bellerin will be followed by Alexis Sanchez and Mesut Ozil in committing their futures to the Emirates.
Chelsea and City monitor Ajax starlet
Kasper Dolberg is preparing to make his international debut for Denmark this week, which will be monitored by Chelsea and Manchester City, according to the Sun.
The 19-year-old striker scored for Ajax in the 3-2 Europa League victory over Celta Vigo last week.
The aforementioned Premier League duo had scouts in attendance at the Amsterdam ArenA and will continue to track the former Silkeborg forward after eight goals and three assists this campaign.
Burnley to offer Barton escape
Joey Barton has endured a miserable time in Scotland and could be set for a premature end to his spell with Rangers with the Mirror suggesting a £150,000 pay-off will be reached imminently.
That has opened the door to a return to Burnley, where he helped the Clarets earn promotion back to the Premier League last year.
Aston Villa are also hovering, with Steve Bruce itching to add promotion know-how to kick-start a revival and contend for a playoff spot.
The report even details how Barton stormed out of the club's training complex on Thursday, clutching a state-of-the-art coffee machine that he had previously gifted to the first team squad.
- Everton have joined the race to sign Charlton's Ademola Lookman with the Mirror reporting the Addicks want £10 million for the 19-year-old.
Crystal Palace failed late in the summer to swoop for the England under-20 forward, who can also count on Manchester City, Arsenal and Liverpool as admirers.
Striker Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang reckons it will be tough for anyone to stop Borussia Dortmund after their superb 5-1 mauling of Wolfsburg on Tuesday.
Aubameyang scored two while Raphael Gurreiro, Ousmane Dembele and Lukasz Piszczek added more goals to take Dortmund's goal tally to 17 in three Bundesliga outings.
The result also left them top of the standings on nine points, level on points with reigning champions Bayern Munich who play Hertha Berlin on Wednesday.
"Nothing can stop us, nothing," Aubameyang said. "Of course I'm happy about my two goals and again we have played a great game.
"But we must not be satisfied, we must continue to work hard anyway."
While his team seem to have found their form at the right time, Tuchel was quick to remind the Dortmund players that it hasn't been a perfect run so far
"I'm more happy about the consecutive victories and the away win that we've managed," he said.
"The position in the Bundesliga table is obviously always the result of these victories, but there are a few teams which can surpass us.
"We've also lost a match [to RB Leipzig] not that long ago and we can evaluate that correctly.
"Our focus is on the next match at home [to Freiburg on Friday]."
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Juventus have confirmed the signing of former Arsenal target Gonzalo Higuain.
Whilst the Gunners were reported to be reluctant to meet his release clause, Juventus have pledged to pay Napoli his £75.3 million release clause in two instalments over two years.
The Argentine, thus, has become the third most expensive signing in football history, only behind Gareth Bale and Cristiano Ronaldo.
Arsenal’s desperation for a striker is well documented. Jamie Vardy, Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, Alvaro Morata, and the Juventus’ newest signing have all been linked all summer, but for a multitude of reasons, Takuma Asano remains the only striker to complete an Emirates Stadium switch so far.
Whether Arsene Wenger considers the rumoured targets overpriced or not of the Arsenal quality is unknown, but the gaffer should know that world-class strikers, in the current market, are few and far between and also elusive.
Gonzalo Higuain, as explained in another O-Posts feature, has the solution to Arsenal’s striking woes.
His physique, skill, mobility and top-level experience could position the N5 club as credible title contenders in the Premier League amongst five other clubs, who have considerably reinforced their squad ahead of the 2016/17 season.
Arsenal, however, may have dodged a bullet despite missing out on an opportunity to gain an upper hand over the other English top-flight clubs.
Making sense of Juventus’ decision
Gonzalo Higuain turns 29 next winter. Juventus splashing £75.3 million on a striker whose numbers will definitely plummet with each passing year divulges the state of the transfer market of today.
In order to win titles, an elite team is bound to be ready to pay ridiculous transfer fees. However, Arsenal resisting a record-breaking move for him highlights the level of shrewdness that resides in their management room.
Whilst age definitely is a concern, adaptability of foreign players is a bigger concern.
Since his move to Europe from River Plate, he has excelled at every club he has played for, lifting eight major trophies and scoring 122 goals for Real Madrid and 91 goals in a Napoli shirt across ten seasons.
However, his accomplishments in Italy and Spain hardly translate to success, as evidenced by the curious cases of Angel di Maria and Radamel Falcao, among others.
With an astronomical price tag, comes the responsibility to justify it. Given his tendency to crumble under pressure, a big money move is certain to cause a psychological effect that may influence his performances.
How he reacts to the pressure should concern the buyer.
Looking forward – Arsenal’s potential targets
Given the inflation, the market value of players has assumed a new meaning.
Only a very few such as Carlos Bacca and Alexandre Lacazette are now available, and the Arsenal manager should relinquish his old ideologies to part ways with Alexis Sanchez-esque monies to strengthen his strikeforce.
However, Arsenal should wrap up a signing before the number of those few options falls down steeply as failing to do so will definitely signify the arrival of an over-priced panic buy.
Borussia Dortmund star Pierre Emerick-Aubameyang may represent Gabon, have been born in France and ply his trade in the Bundesliga, but there is Spanish blood coursing through the forward's veins too, and this week he's been paying a visit to the little village in Castile from where his mother's family hail.
The Crespo clan emigrated to France many decades ago, but having grown up very close to his family the striker's impeccable Spanish means he's felt right at home amongst the townspeople, and he's certainly made a big splash.
The town of El Barraco has produced several footballers of note over the years but the current African footballer of the year, who hit 39 goals for his club last season, is a true global superstar.
He's been the centre of attention but has taken it all in his stride, signing shirts, posing for photos and mixing with the locals, with the mayor delighted that he's taken time out to visit a primary school and swim at the municipal pool as well as having the odd kick-about and enjoying the mountains.
He's been at ease having lunch in the town square, dining in front of the town hall, and more than happy to chat to the locals.
"It's been so long since I was here," Aubameyang told MARCA.
"The last time was when I was one year old, and it was time to come back. I love Spain and I'm so happy to be here."
His father Pierre, a former footballer himself, has also been enjoying the trip.
"We love it, the people have been great", he said.
Pressed on the possibility of his son moving to Spain, he was non-committal.
When Arsene Wenger’s Gunners reflect on their 2015/16 campaign, the principal feelings will be those of regret. Finishing above Tottenham on the final day cannot become an excuse to trivialise their failure to stop Leicester City completing the fairytale ending; this was Arsenal’s best chance to win a first Premier League title since the Invincibles, yet they still fell 10 points adrift of the champions in what can only be described as the most frustrating season of the club’s first decade at the Emirates Stadium.
Most agonising for the Gooners, though, is the fact that bulk of their prayers could have been answered with the one missing piece of the jigsaw: a world-class centre-forward.
Sadly, it’s the piece that’s eluded Wenger for the last nine years. Since selling all-time leading scorer Thierry Henry to Barcelona in 2007, the Gunners have failed time and time again in their bid to unearth a new hero. Robin van Persie flirted with the idea of becoming a star, but ultimately didn’t find success until departing for Manchester United.
Meanwhile, a string of substandard names (Chamakh, Gervinho, Bendtner) have all left a lot to be desired. Similarly, unfulfilled potential will be the overriding analysis of Theo Walcott and other promising youngsters whose bright spells have been largely devalued by the extended dark days between.
Current marksman Olivier Giroud has arguably made the best attempt at filling that void that Arsenal have been desperate to plug, with the Frenchman netting a total of 57 league goals in four years at the Emirates. It’s certainly not a bad a return, and much of the negativity landing at his feet is a long way off the mark.
On the other hand, it’s difficult to argue his inclusion amongst the very elite; Robert Lewandowski, Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, Zlatan Ibrahimovic, Sergio Aguero, Antoine Greizmann and Karim Benzema are all some way ahead of Giroud in both goals to game ratios and overall influence on the pitch. And that’s a very damning fact indeed.
If Arsenal’s aspirations of domestic dominance and continental competitiveness are genuine, buying a world-class central striker this summer is the only option. Without it, their torturous frustrations will continue to devalue the sublime football regularly witnessed at the Emirates under Wenger’s stewardship.
Wenger knows this too; every transfer window sees Arsenal linked with a number of elite No. 9s. It has been the case this season too, with the Gunners linked with star names like Alvaro Morata, Gonzalo Higuain and Karim Benzema. And if the Premier League runners-up ever needed prompting, they only need to look at the heroics of Luis Suarez at Barcelona.
Will Arsene Wenger bring Juve’s Alvaro Morata in from Juventus?
Only the insiders at Arsenal and Liverpool will ever truly know how close the Gunners were to signing the Uruguayan in the summer of 2013, following that infamous £40m plus £1 bid. Nonetheless, it gives a clear indication of Wenger’s understanding of the situation.
The Premier League’s longest-serving manager is one of the most astute in the game, but his failure to find an alternative option in the bridging three-year period has been nothing short of scandalous. To make matters worse, Suarez has been near faultless during his first two years at Barcelona; given the tangible similarities between the styles of those two clubs, it’s a constant reminder of Gunners’ deficiencies.
After playing catchup in his early days at Barcelona, following a suspension that had delayed his debut until late October, Suarez became a key asset in the Blaugrana’s arsenal in 2014/15, establishing himself as a commanding figure as Luis Enrique’s side clinched the treble.
If those performances left Arsenal fans with a bitter taste in their mouth, the 29-year-old’s second season at the Camp Nou can only have amplified the anguish tenfold; an injury in Sunday’s Copa del Rey final may have prevented El Pistolero from reaching the 60-goal landmark but his return of 59 in all competitions even overshadowed Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo, a duo that have dominated the top of Spain’s scoring charts for over half a decade.
In fact, a return of 40 Liga goals saw Suarez become the first man other than Ronaldo or Messi to land the Pichini since compatriot Diego Forlan in 2009. Many fans now believe that the Uruguayan will go on to follow that accolade by ending the Messi-Ronaldo dominance at the Ballon d’Or award ceremony too. Even if he doesn’t, it underlines a sorry case of what might have been for the Gunners.
The added competitiveness of the Premier League may have stopped Suarez hitting the 40-goal milestone; although his return of 31 in his final year at Anfield may suggest differently. Likewise, it would be impossible to argue that the quality of Arsenal’s squad is at the same level of Barcelona. Still, the Uruguayan has epitomised the impact that a lethal goalscorer can have for a fluid passing team. The ship has sailed on the Suarez front, but Wenger cannot afford to ignore the glaring obvious for a single second longer.
As magical as Claudio Ranieri’s Leicester were this season, a world-class striker would have seen Arsenal win the title. WhoScored.com statistics show that Arsenal enjoyed more possession and greater pass completion than any other Premier League outfit in 2015/16 while 75% of their play was carried out in the two attacking thirds.
However, the Gunners failed to score in eight separate matches this term whilst a lack of potency in front of goal additionally cost them points on multiple other occasions. With Suarez (or any other top strikers of the world) amongst their ranks, the Gunners would have been ended their 12-year long wait for the title.
All football fans can appreciate and respect Wenger’s eagerness to bring players through, and there are a number of young stars at the Emirates that could become huge names in future seasons. At this moment, though, the Gunners are now in desperate need of a striker that can add goals immediately. Failure to plug that gap is simply not an option, especially with Jurgen Klopp, Pep Guardiola, Antonio Conte and Jose Mourinho all preparing for their first summer at their respective clubs.
If Arsenal are going to match or repeat their 2015/16 finish, spending some of that reported £200m transfer kitty will be required. After the formalities of completing Granit Xhaka’s arrival have been finalised, a world-class goalscorer simply has to be at the top of the shopping list.
After year’s of hesitation, there is now a palpable feeling in north London that this is the summer where the manager must act. Otherwise, the trust in Wenger could finally be stretched to breaking point.
Whatever way you look at it, Arsenal missed a glorious opportunity in 2015/16. Frustratingly for their supporters, as has been the case for most of the last decade, they’re arguably just one star striker away from sealing their return to the summit of English football. Next season’s title race will certainly provide a tougher test. But, whether it’s Morata, Aubameyang or someone else, a world-class number nine could fire the Gunners to their first title of the Emirates era.
Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang got to show off his incredible skill and hand out some punishment when he took on freestyle footballer Soufiane Touzani in a crossbar challenge.
The Borussia Dortmund attacker was challenged by the Dutch-Moroccan player and presenter in a video on YouTube.
The rules were that each player had to pull off a trick and launch a shot from the edge of the box to hit the woodwork, leaving the loser to stand on the goal line and risk a ball to the bottom from the winner.
Some incredible skills and tricks were on show by both Aubameyang and Touzani, but it was the Gabon international who came out with the win, with the latter failing to hit the woodwork once.
Borussia Dortmund’s Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang has revealed how a promise to his grandfather could scupper the chances of an English club signing the Gabonese striker.
The 26-year-old has scored 30 goals in 35 appearances for the Bundesliga club to fire Thomas Tuchel’s side to within five points of Bayern Munich while also holding a three-goal advantage over Tottenham Hotspur in their Europa League round-of-16 tie.
Manchester United and Arsenal are among the clubs linked with Aubameyang over the winter with a fee in the region of £35m being suggested by German media but it appears he has his heart set on a move to join Real Madrid.
Despite being linked with a return to France, following interest from Ligue 1 champions Paris Saint-Germain, he said: “Real Madrid? There's no deal in place, but I promised my granddad I'd play there one day.
“I've said to myself, 'Why go back to France when I left that league three years ago? Why not discover something new?' Like I've said before, I'd love to play in Spain and to finally enjoy a bit of good weather.”
Meanwhile, Spurs goalkeeper Hugo Lloris is not concerned by their Europa League first-leg defeat having a hangover-effect on their Premier League title aspirations.
Mauricio Pochettino’s side recovered from their Westfalenstadion setback with a 2-0 success at Aston Villa at the weekend to stay within touching distance of leaders Leicester City.
The Frenchman said: “It's important to recover well for all the players who were on the pitch today. I know the quality, the skill, the mentality of the team. Dortmund is just the story of one game.
“Of course we can question ourselves a bit but not too much because the league is very important, we are in a good position and we need to do everything we can to stay in this position.
