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After an eventful weekend that saw Alexis Sanchez go to Manchester and Henrikh Mkhitaryan come to London, there’s news today that another heavily rumored transfer, for Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, is on the verge of happening. Take it away, Get French Football:
Total agreement between Arsenal & Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, according to RMC; player's father has been in London in recent days negotiating with the London club.
— Get French Football (@GFFN) January 22, 2018
I’m not sure what “total agreement” means, but it sounds awfully final, and it sounds like Arsenal and Aubameyang are going to be BFF’s as well as employer/employee. I mean, if they agree in total, that means Arsenal’s favorite food is Auba’s, and whatever music Auba likes Arsenal will run out and buy now because it’s the best, right?
Anyway, while “total agreement” sounds awesome, that agreement probably won’t happen today:
RMC indicate that "several sources" believe that Dortmund & Arsenal should reach an agreement for Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang within the next 2 to 3 days.
— Get French Football (@GFFN) January 22, 2018
Looks like this January, as opposed to many Wenger Januaries, will be fairly active. And there’s still a week to go. The wild card in all this is the fate of Olivier Giroud. Reports (from Metro, but there are other sources saying the same) that the difference in opinion about Auba’s valuation between Arsenal and Dortmund could be made up by including Olivier Giroud in the deal.
This...complicates my feelings about the deal, honestly. Giroud’s probably frustrated about a lack of playing time, and a move to an Auba-less Dortmund might solve that problem for him, but it doesn’t solve the problem of Arsenal no longer having Olivier Giroud. Stay tuned for more on that front.