The major factor blocking Aubameyang's move to Milan

Martin Macdonald

• 27 Jan 2022 13:44 GMT
• 3 min read

Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang has likely played his last game for Arsenal and is poised to leave as early as the January transfer window.

Previously a fan favourite with the Gunners, Aubemyang was stripped of the captaincy earlier this season by manager Mikel Arteta.

The Gabon international was and still is a maverick, but his highlight reel has often been overshadowed by disciplinary problems.

And the latest problem will be the most costly, not just to Aubameyang himself but to Arsenal too.

TRENDING

Which football managers have been sacked this season?

Premier League managers: Full list of current bosses

What are the most expensive transfers of all time? The 50 highest fees in history

After an incident believed to be involving timekeeping, Arteta made the decision to take the captaincy off the player, but also to exile from first-team training and matchday squads.

Aubameyang's absence coincided with an upturn IN form for the Gunners, and it now seems like Arteta has made up his mind that his former captain won't play for him again.

The saga has received a break over the last couple of weeks due to the Africa Cup of Nations, but that has swiftly been brought to an end after the former Borussia Dortmund striker was sent back to the Emirates after being diagnosed with heart lesions.

Arsenal are now treating a player on a £55 million three-year contract who will likely never don the red and white again.

Move to Milan off?

Football Italia reported this week that Aubameyang is the subject of interest from his former club, Milan.

He featured in the youth academy of the Rossoneri, but never made an appearance in Serie A.

A return to San Siro has been reported, but there is a major stumbling block to the deal and that is Aubameyang's wage demands.

At the moment, the player earns around £300k per week at Arsenal, and Milan's highest earner is currently Zlatan Ibrahimovic on £120k per week.

Therefore, Aubameyang would demand wages more than double that of the second-highest earner at Milan for the move to happen.

Arsenal would likely need to pay some of the player's salary in order for Milan to consider a loan deal.