Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang reportedly open to Man United move

If Arsenal fans are looking for a silver lining, any such move would give them a bit more cash to get Kieran Tierney from Celtic...

Just under a fortnight ago, Manchester United were linked with what would be a surprise move for Arsenal striker Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang. The story first came out on the UK airwaves and was picked up by a few outlets, but focus soon switched to United's efforts to shore up their leaky defence and retain Paul Pogba and David De Gea's services. However, the Aubameyang transfer story has more gas than Romelu Lukaku on his best day and is not going away. Reports from Italy claim United have the 30-year-old lined up to replace Lukaku if Inter Milan can find enough money down the couch to get the Belgian on a permanent deal. Back on June 19, the link between the Gabon international and United was first made by talkSport presenter Andy Goldstein, who commented:

"I’ve got someone on the inside [at United], who every so often would tell me transfer gossip.I would say he’s got a quite high hit ratio… 75 to 25%. "He told me about Anthony Martial, which I tweeted two days before Man United even made their approach. He has told me United are interested in Aubameyang. He’s got two years left on his deal, is 30-years-old… he’s the finished article. "United did something similar with [Robin] van Persie, and Romelu Lukaku is not doing it for Ole Gunnar Solskjaer."

Arsenal supporters may have had some nervous tremors but United, surely (surely?!), had bigger issues than needed addressing. Well, now that United have signed up Aaron Wan-Bissaka from Crystal Palace, they could be about to replace Lukaku with a more... mobile forward. Aubameyang scored 30 goals in 50 appearances for the Gunners last season and had struck up a nice partnership with Alexandre Lacazette. In their transfer round-up of all things Serie A, Tuttosport claim Aubameyang 'says yes' to the idea of a summer switch to United. Their piece focuses on Lukaku looking set for Inter with the Aubameyang move set to come about if United can get close to £70 million for their Belgian forward. Back in 2012, United signed Robin van Persie from Arsenal for £24m and he burned like a candle in the wind, impressing most in his first season when he and Wayne Rooney struck up a league-winning partnership up front.