Barca lacking one thing to complete Aubameyang loan
Robin Bairner
- 30 Jan 2022 11:30 GMT
- 3 min read
Barcelona are closing in on a loan deal for Arsenal striker Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, according to reports in Spain.
Barca are chasing additional options in attack following the retirement of Sergio Aguero, and they are trying to add Aubameyang to their ranks.
A deal is possible because of the indiscipline of the disgraced Arsenal captain, who has barely played since the beginning of December amid health problems and internal conflict at the Premier League club.
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Aubameyang does not appear to be in Mikel Arteta’s plans, and though he has 18 months to run on his Arsenal deal, he could be farmed out to Camp Nou for the first six of those.
Indeed, it is reported by AS that an agreement between the club and the player has been reached.
What’s stopping Barcelona signing Aubameyang?
There is, however, a major – and predictable – stumbling block. Barcelona are once again faced with the issue of finding room in their wage bill for Aubameyang, who commands a hefty salary at Arsenal.
It is envisaged that his would be created by Ousmane Dembele departing the club.
A report in Mundo Deportivo on Sunday, however, suggests that there is increasing pessimism in Barcelona’s ranks that the Frenchman is willing to leave. Indeed, it is said that Dembele even went so far as to inform Barca on Saturday that he has no intention of departing the club before the summer, at which point his contract will expire.
Barcelona, meanwhile, appear to be bracing themselves for life after Dembele by having added Adama Traore to their ranks on Saturday.
Despite this, it appears that Dembele is going to decisively stand in the way of Barcelona and signing Aubameyang from Arsenal unless there is a major U-turn in the France winger’s situation over the course of the next 48 hours.
