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JUST-IN: Arsenal ‘ready to off-load’ Aubameyang as they chase transfer replacement

Arsenal are reportedly ‘ready to sell’ captain Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang this summer.

Aubameyang penned a bumper new long-term contract last year, but his decline on the pitch over the last 12 months has been a concern.

According to The Mirror, the 32-year-old managed just 10 Premier League goals last year – a far cry from his return of 22 goals in each of the previous two campaigns.

The Times are now reporting that the Gunners are ready to offload the hitman this summer.

Despite being prepared to sanction an exit, it’s believed interest in the striker will be minimal taking into account his age and drop in form over the last year.

Aubameyang’s mammoth £300,000-a-week salary is also set to be an issue for any interested party.

Boss Mikel Arteta has admitted that he is unsure whether or not Aubameyang can rediscover the sparkling form which persuaded Arsenal to offer the ace fresh terms.

Arteta told CBS : “I don’t know. Last season and everything that happened individually and collectively, it was difficult to measure whether that was a trend or a one-off.

“Our job is to help the team get the best they have and we know with him we are stronger because he scores goals. That’s one of the most important things in this game.”

Arsenal struggled for goals last year overall, managing just 55 – only Everton (48) managed less than the Gunners in the top half of the Premier League.

And Arteta is keen on snapping up Chelsea striker Tammy Abraham to solve the goalscoring conundrum at the Emirates.

The 23-year-old is set to be offloaded by the Blues following their club-record £97.5m deal to bring Romelu Lukaku back to the Premier League.

Serie A side AS Roma, managed by Jose Mourinho, have reportedly agreed a £34m fee for the English ace.

But Abraham is said to prefer a switch to Arsenal, allowing him to remain in London.

Whether or not the Gunners can raise the cash to fund a swoop for the hitman remains to be seen though.

Arsenal have struggled to flog their fringe players so far this month, although midfielder Joe Willock is on the verge of a £25m transfer to Newcastle in a deal that will boost the Gunners’ budget.

read also:Arsenal adapting to most difficult transfer window – Arteta

Arteta will be hoping that Willock won’t be the last fringe player to depart the Emirates this summer as he prepares for Friday night’s season opener at Brentford with a squad still in need of surgery.

The £50m addition of Ben White will shore up the Gunners’ defence, but fellow signings Nico Tavares and Albert Sambi Lokonga aren’t expected to feature straight away.

Arsenal are still hopeful of adding a home-grown goalkeeper and a creative midfielder to their squad, along with with trying to wrap up a deal for Abraham.

But time is against them, with the season now underway and the transfer window slamming shut in just over two-and-a-half weeks.

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