Barcelona agree Aubameyang loan and push to move players out to seal deal

Pierre Emerick-Aubameyang has an agreement in place to join Barcelona on loan from Arsenal but the deal is expected to go through only if the Catalan club can move at least one player out.

The forward has been exiled at Arsenal by Mikel Arteta, who stripped him of the captaincy citing a lack of commitment, and a transfer would suit all parties. Aubameyang has travelled to Barcelona in the hope of concluding the move. The Saudi club Al-Nassr offered him an exit route but he rejected that.

Barcelona and Arsenal have a deal in principle and the Gabon international is all but ready to sign. Barcelona are trying to find a taker for Ousmane Dembélé, who has declined to extend his contract beyond the summer.

Aubameyang was diagnosed with heart lesions after recovering from Covid-19 at the Africa Cup of Nations but went on to say he was “absolutely fine” and “completely healthy”.