Time to talk! Arsenal contract negotiations with in-form Aubameyang
Premier League
By
Mirror
| Feb 26, 2020
Arsenal are ready to try and relaunch contract negotiations with Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang.
Aubameyang, 30, put talks on hold last autumn because he was frustrated at the Emirates and is desperate to play in the Champions League.
But Arsenal are keen to try and keep Aubameyang but also discover his intentions as he will only have one year left on his current contract this summer.
They will then have to make a big decision on whether to sell their top scorer or allow him to run down his deal and run the risk of him leaving on a free transfer in 2021.
However, there is a growing feeling now that Aubameyang can see the club is moving upwards under Mikel Arteta and they may yet be able to convince him to stay.
Gunners boss Arteta said on Sunday that he is hoping they can keep him beyond this season and that he can see the club is moving in the right direction.
Arsenal will not want to fall into the trap of paying over-the-odds as they have been accused of doing with Mesut Ozil who is on £350,000-a-week and if they are out of the Champions League next season then they may have to make cutbacks.
Barcelona have been keen on Aubameyang and even made overtures in January but the deal was never on - but the Spanish giants could come back in the summer with Inter Milan also interested.
Aubameyang is certainly happier now under Arteta than he was with Unai Emery but they do face a crucial few months to see if they can get back into the Champions League which could ultimately hold the key.
Meanwhile, Arsenal are also exploring ways of getting club legend Santi Cazorla back at the Emirates so the fans can say a proper farewell to one of the most popular players of recent times.
Villarreal midfielder Cazorla, 35, has spoken about wanting to come back to see the fans and Arsenal’s head of football operations Raul Sanllehi acknowledged that last week at a supporters’ meeting.
One possibility would be to look at Villarreal for the Emirates Cup but with Arsenal unsure of how the season will end and whether they could be involved in European qualifiers they have yet to nail down pre-season plans.
They have already sounded out Arsene Wenger about coming back for a game as the ex-Arsenal boss has yet to return to the Emirates and Arteta is happy to buy into the club traditions and recognising club legends.