Barcelona want Aubameyang on loan next month

Barcelona have been alerted by Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang’s exile at Arsenal and would be interested in signing him on loan next month.

But his £350,000-a-week wages are a potential stumbling block for the cash-strapped Catalan club.

Striker Aubameyang has been training alone since losing the Arsenal captaincy last week and is expected to remain out of Mikel Arteta’s plans until he heads off to the Africa Cup of Nations with Gabon at the end of this month.

Barcelona, meanwhile, are in the market for up to two new forwards in January after Sergio Aguero was forced to retire last week.

Manchester City’s Ferran Torres is high on their wish list but he could cost around £50 million. Aubameyang, as a loan alternative, would require a lower initial outlay.

Another Barca target is Edinson Cavani but Manchester United are hoping to keep the Uruguayan striker.

After agreeing a new 12-month contract in the summer, Cavani has made just three starts for United this season due to a tendon problem in his leg and the return of Cristiano Ronaldo.

The 34-year-old has been linked with a move to the Nou Camp but it is understood that United want him to see out the remaining six months of his contract.

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Arsenal play at home tonight in the Carabao Cup quarter-finals against League One club Sunderland, who suffered a blow after one of their players tested positive for Covid. Lee Johnson’s side face another round of testing before they travel to London today.

Meanwhile, Newcastle are weighing up a move for Lyon striker Moussa Dembele.

The 25-year-old had a spell on loan at Atletico Madrid last season after they agreed a £1.2m loan fee with an option for a £30m transfer. But Atletico failed to take up the option as Dembele’s season was disrupted by Covid and injuries.